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| Arsonists attack Hellas gold mine in northern Greece | Arsonists attack Hellas gold mine in northern Greece |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Dozens of masked intruders have raided a gold mining operation in northern Greece, officials say. | Dozens of masked intruders have raided a gold mining operation in northern Greece, officials say. |
| The attackers used gasoline bombs and flammable liquid to set fire to machinery, vehicles and containers, police told the Associated Press. | The attackers used gasoline bombs and flammable liquid to set fire to machinery, vehicles and containers, police told the Associated Press. |
| The Hellas Gold site is due to open in 2015 and expected to create new jobs in the recession-hit Halkidiki region. | The Hellas Gold site is due to open in 2015 and expected to create new jobs in the recession-hit Halkidiki region. |
| But it has faced protests from environmentalists who say development would cause irreversible damage. | But it has faced protests from environmentalists who say development would cause irreversible damage. |
| Citizens' groups have been trying to halt the project since 2011, when the Greek government allowed Hellenic Gold, a subsidiary of Canadian company Eldorado Gold, to dig in the region. | Citizens' groups have been trying to halt the project since 2011, when the Greek government allowed Hellenic Gold, a subsidiary of Canadian company Eldorado Gold, to dig in the region. |
| In January, hundreds of Greeks took to the streets of Athens to demonstrate against the new mine. | In January, hundreds of Greeks took to the streets of Athens to demonstrate against the new mine. |
| 'Barely exploited' | 'Barely exploited' |
| Up to 50 intruders raided the complex at Skouries after midnight on Sunday, fire fighters and police told AP on Sunday. | Up to 50 intruders raided the complex at Skouries after midnight on Sunday, fire fighters and police told AP on Sunday. |
| The arson attack caused extensive damage to machines, trucks and containers used as offices, authorities said. | The arson attack caused extensive damage to machines, trucks and containers used as offices, authorities said. |
| A security guard was reported to have been injured in the attack. | A security guard was reported to have been injured in the attack. |
| Police detained 27 people, who were later released. | Police detained 27 people, who were later released. |
| The Halkidiki area has a long history of mining for gold and other minerals, making it the centre of frequent bitter debates between residents and politicians. | The Halkidiki area has a long history of mining for gold and other minerals, making it the centre of frequent bitter debates between residents and politicians. |
| Eldorado boss Eduardo Moura said the Hellas Gold project would "generate approximately 5,000 direct and indirect jobs in Greece". | Eldorado boss Eduardo Moura said the Hellas Gold project would "generate approximately 5,000 direct and indirect jobs in Greece". |
| Authorities hope it will help to fight the crippling unemployment in the region as the country heads into its sixth year of recession. | Authorities hope it will help to fight the crippling unemployment in the region as the country heads into its sixth year of recession. |
| "No-one doubts any longer that northern Greece is a source of mineral wealth, with a total wealth in metals exceeding 20bn euros (£17bn)," Deputy Energy and Environment Minister Asimakis Papageorgiou said in a recent parliamentary debate on mining operations in Halkidiki. | "No-one doubts any longer that northern Greece is a source of mineral wealth, with a total wealth in metals exceeding 20bn euros (£17bn)," Deputy Energy and Environment Minister Asimakis Papageorgiou said in a recent parliamentary debate on mining operations in Halkidiki. |
| "We can no longer accept this being left unexploited or barely exploited." | "We can no longer accept this being left unexploited or barely exploited." |
| Critics, however, say the mining operation will destroy forests in the area, contaminate groundwater and pollute the air with chemical substances like lead, mercury and arsenic. | Critics, however, say the mining operation will destroy forests in the area, contaminate groundwater and pollute the air with chemical substances like lead, mercury and arsenic. |
| Opponents argue this will drive away tourism and damage farming and fishing. | Opponents argue this will drive away tourism and damage farming and fishing. |
| Last year, residents launched legal proceedings to try and to stop the the project. | |
| But the country's highest administrative court ruled in favour of Eldorado, citing Halkidiki's high unemployment rate. | |
| Judges also said there were no environmental concerns stemming from the investment. | Judges also said there were no environmental concerns stemming from the investment. |