EU prosecutors investigate Spanish rail funds after Urda crash
European Union prosecutors have begun investigating the possible misuse of EU funds meant for upgrading the Spanish railway line where a train crash killed 69 people last week.
Prosecutors backed by a special unit of Spain's Guardia Civil security force said they were conducting the inquiry at the offices of Adif rail infrastructure authority and rail safety agency AESF.
Last week, a train operated by state-owned operator Renfe ploughed into the back of a stationary train belonging to private Spanish company Iryo outside the village of Urda, around 130km (80 miles) south of Madrid.
The LZB communication system that monitors the position of trains had gone down, and the Renfe train had been given the all clear to start running at normal speed, even though the Iryo train ahead of it had been unable to restart.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) said on Friday it had begun conducting investigative measures at Spain's rail authorities "after the opening of an investigation into possible fraud affecting EU funds allocated to the renovation and upgrading of safety, signalling and communications systems on the Madrid-Seville high-speed railway line".
The EPPO highlighted high public interest in the case, but said no further details would be made public.
As part of the process, a Spanish judge assigned to the case has to ensure the investigation complies with legal safeguards, including authorising any measures that might involve house searches or phone-tapping.
