EPPO requests contracts linked to the Urda accident from Adif and the Court of Audit

The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) carried out investigative measures on Friday at the headquarters of Adif, Spain's rail infrastructure manager, the State Railway Safety Agency (AESF) and the Court of Audit (Tribunal de Cuentas) in Madrid, according to a statement from the office reported by Europa Press. Officers of the Guardia Civil's Central Operational Unit (UCO) carried out the measures on the EPPO's orders to request contracts that were reportedly financed with European funds, according to legal sources cited by EFE.

According to the statement reported by Europa Press, the measure is part of an investigation into possible fraud affecting European funds intended for the renewal and improvement of safety and signalling on the Madrid-Seville high-speed line. EPPO sources told Europa Press that the contracts are related to the possible causes of the Urda (Toledo) accident of October 28, in which 69 people died. The Court of Audit confirmed that UCO officers were on its premises at the request of the EPPO in Madrid, in connection with a request for information.

According to Infobae, citing legal sources quoted by EFE, the investigation was opened on the office's own initiative and concerns alleged offences of diversion of European funds, subsidy fraud and embezzlement, among others. The EPPO said it was publicly confirming the measures because of the great public interest in the case and that it would give no further information until there is progress. Adif and the AESF have made no public statements, according to Infobae.

It is separate from the investigation the EPPO announced in March into funds for track maintenance near Adamuz (Córdoba), where 46 people died on January 18. It is not known which contracts or amounts are being investigated, whether any people or companies are under investigation, or what documents the UCO took. An investigation into possible fraud does not imply that an offence was committed, nor does it show a link to the cause of the accident.

Developing story: the EPPO statement is known through quotes by Europa Press and EFE; The Post Apocalyptic was unable to open the office's official page to read it in full.