Cambridge scientist dies in Spanish train crash

A University of Cambridge scientist is still missing after Wednesday's train crash in Spain which killed at least 69 people.

Dr Marta Shahbazi was travelling on one of the trains involved in the collision near Urda, south of Madrid, according to the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in the city, where she leads a group of researchers.

The University of Cambridge lists Dr Shahbazi as an affiliate associate professor.

In a statement, external, the LMB said it was "deeply concerned" by reports she had been on one of the trains, adding: "At this point her whereabouts are unknown".

It continued: "The LMB is in close contact with her family who are working with local authorities in Spain.

"Our thoughts are with Marta, her family, friends and colleagues at this deeply worrying time."

The expert in cell biology, who runs the Shahbazi Laboratory at the LMB, based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, was announced as the winner of a Spanish Society for Developmental Biology award for her contributions to the study of early human development.

She was due to be presented with the award during the society's conference in El Rompido, Andalusia, south-west Spain.

In a social media post, external, it said Dr Shahbazi was one of two scientists travelling to its meeting when the train they were on crashed.

It said it had received the news that Dr Shahbani was one of those to be "declared missing" with "enormous sorrow".

Dr Shahbani undertook her PhD at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, before joining the University of Cambridge as a post-doctoral fellow and then the LMB in 2020.

The collision happened when a state-operated Renfe high-speed train smashed into the back of a stationary train operated by the Iryo company.

It is one of the worst rail disasters in Europe's modern history, and Spain's worst crash since 2013.

Three days of national mourning were declared in the country.

More than 540 people were on board both trains.

Esther Padilla, spokesperson for the government of Castilla-La Mancha region, said one of the trains - managed by the Iryo company - was carrying 146 passengers plus one baby, while the Renfe-managed train had 397 passengers on board.