Police and protesters clash in Athens during train crash protest

Clashes erupted between protesters and police in Athens on Sunday, following public uproar over Tuesday's train crash which killed 57 people.

Five people were arrested and seven police officers were injured when a group of more than 200 masked, black-clad individuals started throwing pieces of marble, rocks, bottles and firebombs at officers, according to the Athens police department.

Police at the scene responded with “limited use of the necessary, appropriate means” — that is, tear gas and stun grenades - and chased suspects along a central avenue in the city.

The protest was attended by about 12,000 people according to authorities.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis apologised Sunday for any responsibility Greece’s government had for the deadliest train crash in the country’s history.

The collision at Tempe, 380 kilometers (235 miles) north of Athens shocked the nation and highlighted safety shortcomings in the small but dated rail network.

Greece's railways long suffered from chronic mismanagement, including lavish spending on projects that were eventually abandoned or significantly delayed, Greek media have reported in several exposes.

With state railway company Hellenic Railways billions of euros in debt, maintenance work was put off, according to the news reports.

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