Greek deputy civil protection minister resigns over rail disaster site tampering claim
ATHENS, Greece — A Greek deputy minister resigned on Thursday following allegations of evidence tampering at the site of the 2023 rail disaster that claimed 57 lives when two trainswere involved in a head-on collision .
Christos Triantopoulos, deputy minister for civil protection, stepped down following claims by the main opposition party that he participated in unauthorized alterations at the crash site. He denies the accusations.
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a day ago
More bodies of executed civil war-era prisoners uncovered under Greek city park
THESSALONIKI, Greece -- Another series of unmarked graves — this one containing 14 individuals from Greece's civil war era — have been dug up in a park in a suburb near the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, local officials said Saturday. As in the previous tight cluster of unmarked burial pits excavated earlier this year in Neapolis-Sykies, the bodies belong to prisoners who were held in a nearby Byzantine fortress. The prisoners, alleged communists and sympathizers, were executed between 1946 and 1953, according to historians. The Yedi Kule castle, also known by its Greek name Eptapyrgio ('seven towers') was a prison where communist sympathizers were tortured and executed during Greece's 1946-49 Civil War and immediately afterward. The burial pits were uncovered on the site of a municipal park undergoing renovation, including the installation of new benches. The graves were not far beneath the surface, Haris Charismiadis, the supervising engineer of the park project, told The Associated Press. The renovation project is not currently a priority for local mayor Simos Daniilidis. 'We insisted on continuing the digging for the graves,' he said. Charismiadis, who said most of the current batch of bodies were found during the past week, is certain there are more people buried nearby, including, probably, under the tarmac of streets adjacent to the park. An archaeologist is assisting in the digging. In contrast with the 33 bodies found earlier this year, which were lying side by side, the recently found bodies are jumbled, as if thrown randomly, and hastily, in a heap. Torsos and heads are separated. When Yedi Kule prisoners were executed, their families were often not notified and they didn't get to retrieve their bodies. Some found out about the fate of their loved ones from newspapers — one family happened upon the news while on the bus they had taken to the prison to bring their relative a fresh change of clothes.
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
More bodies of executed civil war-era prisoners uncovered under Greek city park
THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Another series of unmarked graves — this one containing 14 individuals from Greece's civil war era — have been dug up in a park in a suburb near the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, local officials said Saturday. As in the previous tight cluster of unmarked burial pits excavated earlier this year in Neapolis-Sykies, the bodies belong to prisoners who were held in a nearby Byzantine fortress. The prisoners, alleged communists and sympathizers, were executed between 1946 and 1953, according to historians. The Yedi Kule castle, also known by its Greek name Eptapyrgio ('seven towers') was a prison where communist sympathizers were tortured and executed during Greece's 1946-49 Civil War and immediately afterward. The burial pits were uncovered on the site of a municipal park undergoing renovation, including the installation of new benches. The graves were not far beneath the surface, Haris Charismiadis, the supervising engineer of the park project, told The Associated Press. The renovation project is not currently a priority for local mayor Simos Daniilidis. 'We insisted on continuing the digging for the graves,' he said. Charismiadis, who said most of the current batch of bodies were found during the past week, is certain there are more people buried nearby, including, probably, under the tarmac of streets adjacent to the park. An archaeologist is assisting in the digging. In contrast with the 33 bodies found earlier this year, which were lying side by side, the recently found bodies are jumbled, as if thrown randomly, and hastily, in a heap. Torsos and heads are separated. When Yedi Kule prisoners were executed, their families were often not notified and they didn't get to retrieve their bodies. Some found out about the fate of their loved ones from newspapers — one family happened upon the news while on the bus they had taken to the prison to bring their relative a fresh change of clothes.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
University of Utah terminates recognition of fraternity accused of ‘egregious and serious' hazing
A statue of the University of Utah logo is pictured on campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, January 15, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) The University of Utah has terminated its recognition of a fraternity accused of 'egregious and serious' hazing, including forcing new members to drink alcohol and use drugs, sleep on a basement floor, and do chores at 3 a.m. According to a letter from Vice President for Student Affairs Lori McDonald, the university will not consider applications to recognize the Sigma Nu – Epsilon Lambda fraternity until 2031. The letter, signed in May, details a number of hazing allegations that occurred during fall 2024 and spring 2025 semesters, pointing to 'a pattern of misbehavior over the past six years, including hazing, alcohol-related violations, and destruction of property.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In January, the university was alerted to possible violations of student code from the fraternity. It launched an investigation that was completed in May. That investigation, according to a report released by the university, found at least 13 incidents of 'subtle, harassment and violent' hazing. That included: An event where new members were forced to drink large quantities of beer, vodka and whiskey. Requiring new members to complete chores as early as 3 a.m. or risk facing humiliating sexualized punishment by active members. Blindfolding, kidnapping and bringing new members to an 'exotic dance club.' Telling new members to participate in an interview while using marijuana, or risk removal. Giving members 'derogatory' nicknames. Hosting expensive and unsanctioned parties where alcohol was provided. Requiring new members to carry 'pledge packs' at all times, which included items like tobacco, condoms, a golf tee, gum, Zyns and a marijuana pen. The investigation report also detailed a tradition where new members were forced to stay in the basement of the fraternity building. 'During this timeframe, limited food was provided, new members slept on the basement floor, and they were required to clean the facility and sing songs while actives and alumni were present,' the document reads. 'I do not have confidence the Sigma Nu chapter will follow the University's directions, policies, or the terms of a suspension, and therefore, termination of the University's recognition of the chapter is warranted,' McDonald wrote to the fraternity in the May 19 letter. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the university's Greek Council Executive Board said hazing is 'harmful, unacceptable, and has no place in our community.' 'The actions that led to this decision, do not reflect the values or true purpose of Greek life. Greek organizations should stand for leadership, service, friendship, and personal growth,' the board said. According to the university, three fraternities have lost their official recognition since 2002. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
