WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden on Thursday offered his condolences over the train accident in Greece that killed at least 47 people and injured dozens of others.
A passenger train collided head-on with a freight train outside the central Greek city of Larissa before midnight on Tuesday.
“On behalf of the American people, Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the tragic train accident in Greece,” Biden said on Twitter.
“We wish those injured a quick and full recovery.”
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by telephone with his Greek counterpart Nikolaos Dendias, telling him “that the United States stands with the people of Greece during this difficult time.”
At least 47 people have been confirmed dead by Greek authorities, but several more are known to have been trapped in the restaurant car and have yet to be extricated.
Investigators blamed the tragedy on human error and a 59-year-old station manager was arrested on suspicion on negligent homicide for allowing the freight train to travel on the same track in the opposite direction as the passenger train.
The government also acknowledged delays in installing safeguards on the train route, citing “chronic malaise and decades of failure” in state management.
Biden offers condolences over Greece train tragedy
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Biden offers condolences over Greece train tragedy
- "On behalf of the American people, Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the tragic train accident in Greece," Biden said on Twitter
- At least 47 people have been confirmed dead by Greek authorities
UK court jails Christian camp leader for drugging, sexually abusing boys
- Ruben admitted offenses relating to ill-treatment of children and sexual abuse — as well as to drugging his wife, who was volunteering at the camp, in order to avoid detection
LONDON: A court in England on Friday jailed a man for more than 31 years for drugging and sexually abusing young boys at a Christian summer camp he led last summer.
Police say they are now talking to other groups he worked with in the past as part of an ongoing investigation.
Former vet Jon Ruben, 76, was leading the camp last July, said a statement from prosecutors released after Friday’s judgment.
He laced sweets with sedatives and tricked children at the camp into eating them by encouraging them to take part in a game.
“Later on, while the boys were heavily asleep, he went into their dormitory and chose individual boys to sexually abuse them,” said prosecutors.
Volunteers at the camp in Leicestershire, central England, raised the alarm after finding the children still nauseous, drowsy and disoriented the next day.
Eight boys aged between eight and 11 were taken to hospital and Ruben was arrested.
Investigators found syringes and sedatives at the camp location.
On his devices they found indecent images of children as well as evidence he had procured tranquilizer drugs and tried to join an online paedophile network.
Ruben admitted offenses relating to ill-treatment of children and sexual abuse — as well as to drugging his wife, who was volunteering at the camp, in order to avoid detection.
A court in Leicester sentenced him on Friday to a total of 31 years and 10 months behind bars under special provisions for defendants designated by prosecutors as particularly dangerous.
Leicestershire police said the investigation into Ruben was still “very much ongoing.”
Officers are contacting schools and youth organizations in central England with whom Ruben was involved with over the past two decades.
