A quarry in Markopoulo, east of Athens, was shut down yesterday more than a year after Greece’s highest administrative court ordered the business, which has been operating illegally for 12 years, to be closed.

The Council of State ruled last May that the Latomeia Markopoulou quarry should cease operations because it was damaging the local environment and residents’ health. A ruling was also issued against another quarry in the area, which was shut down last month.

Officials from the Prefecture of Eastern Attica arrived at the quarry yesterday morning to seal the premises but a scuffle ensued when security guards and a representative of the firm objected to a Skai TV crew filming the event.

The journalist and cameraman were verbally abused and jostled by the firm’s employees. Police detained all those involved before releasing them later in the day.