Prosecution summons Egyptian National Railways’ head over Cairo station accident

Fatma Lotfi
2 Min Read

Most of the victims in last week’s Cairo Railway Station’s accident died of severe burns, brain haemorrhage, and laceration wounds, a forensic report stated on Sunday.

The report denied any criminal or terrorist suspicion, adding that there were no remains of explosive devices or materials in the scene of the accident.

Meanwhile, Prosecutor-General Nabil Sadek summoned on Sunday the Head of the Egyptian National Railways (ENR), Ashraf Raslan, and other top officials of the authority for interrogation over the accident.

Cairo prosecution also ordered on Sunday the detention of the railway pointsman in the Cairo Railway Station for four days pending investigation.

A military engineering committee has been formed to check the affected buildings in the accident, the prosecution added.

Last Wednesday, 25 people were killed, and dozens were severely wounded after a locomotive without a driver smashed through a buffer stop at the Cairo Railway Station.

The accident occurred after a driver stepped off the train, without putting the brakes on, to argue with another train driver who hit the former train, according to earlier investigations.

The suspected driver left his railcar without switching the engine off, after which the unattended locomotive with a fuel tank sped off and hit the buffer stop which led to a huge fire and explosion.

Earlier on Saturday, the prosecution office renewed the detention of the two drivers involved in the accident along with four others for 15 days pending investigations. The train driver, who left his locomotive without turning off its engine, faces two charges of intentional murder and neglect.

In the aftermath of the accident, the Transportation Minister, Hisham Arafat, resigned, with the Electricity Minister, Mohamed Shaker, taking temporary charge of the Transport Ministry.

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A journalist in DNE's politics section with more than six years of experience in print and digital journalism, focusing on local political issues, terrorism and human rights. She also writes features on women issues and culture.
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