Suspects in northern Greece gold mine arson attack to be questioned
Police in northern Greece have written to 22 people asking them appear at the force’s headquarters in Thessaloniki on Friday as part of the preliminary investigation into the arson attack at the Skouries gold mine last month, when offices and vehicles belonging to Hellas Gold were torched.
Following the attack, the police’s search for suspects in Halkidiki prompted angry responses from locals who accused officers of illegally obtaining DNA samples from people including minors. The police denied breaking the law.
There was also a flasn point earlier this month when riot police entered the village of Ierissos in search of suspects. Their use of tear gas prompted an angry response from locals, who claimed that children suffered health problems as a result of inhaling chemicals.
Four people were arrested during the raid on suspicion of illegally possessing firearms and fireworks. The suspects said the weapons were heirlooms that were no longer in working order. The trial of the four Ierissos residents was on Wednesday postponed until February 7 next year.
