Ierissos Arson Attack Suspects Fail To Convince Prosecution

Two residents from the town of Ierissos in Halkidiki were temporarily remanded on Sunday after testifying before a prosecutor and examining magistrate in Thessaloniki on Sunday. Press reports said that the two detainees,who were recently arrested for implication in the February attack against a Hellenic Gold mining facility in nearby Skouries, denied the felony charge against them and failed to convince the prosecutor and examining magistrate who unanimously decided on their detention.

The two are accused of taking part in the February 17 attack on the gold-mining facility in Skouries, based on genetic material collected from a woolen hood found near the site, which implicated one of the suspects, and a ballistics examination that matched a shotgun found in the home of the second suspect with bullets collected from the site. The charges are for seven felonies and 11 misdemeanors, including involvement in a criminal organisation, attempted homicide, possession of explosive material, arson and theft.

While this was going on, fellow residents from Ierissos had gathered outside the police headquarters in Thessaloniki in a show of solidarity with the two suspects. Defying the rain, hundreds demonstrated under stringent security measures and demanded their release.

One day earlier, protesters demonstrated in downtown Athens over the Hellenic Gold mining operations in Halkidiki, and the arrest of the two residents. The demonstration, which marched to Syntagma Square, created traffic problems in surrounding streets before dispersing.

(Combined Reports)