Vox leader Santiago Abascal has used his response to Spain’s latest rail disaster to launch an attack on Pedro Sanchez’s government, calling it a ‘criminal organisation’ and demanding it face prosecution.

His intervention came as the reported death toll from Wednesday’s collision between Renfe and Iryo trains near Urda, Toledo, reached 50, with more than 179 people injured.

Writing on X at 10.47am, the hard-right party leader combined condolences with accusations against the government, while emergency operations were still underway.

Vox is the only major political party in Spain to have not suspended its election campaign in response to the disaster.

‘Deaths again. Tragedy again. Anger again at the abandonment, ruin and betrayal suffered by Spaniards,’ Abascal wrote.

Abascal offered his condolences to bereaved families and expressed solidarity with the injured before pledging to pursue the government.

‘I do not intend to rest until this government, which is a criminal organisation, sits in the dock to answer for its crimes,’ he said.

The message drew sharply divided responses. Some users accused him of exploiting the deaths, while others endorsed his attack on the administration.

His remarks contrasted with the initial statements from Sanchez, Andalucian president Juanma Moreno and opposition leader Alberto Nuñez Feijoo, which focused on supporting victims, their families and emergency workers.

Sanchez said he was in constant contact with Transport Minister Oscar Puente and Castilla-La Mancha president Emiliano Garcia-Page.

Moreno described the collision as ‘another nightmare’ and offered Andalucia’s assistance, while Feijoo said the priority was caring for victims and supporting their relatives.

High-speed services between Madrid and Andalucia remain suspended following the crash.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.