The arrests were not received well by the locals and it propelled a large group of residents to raid the premises of the local police station, causing major damages.
The locals then gathered outside the local courts where both suspects are expected to face an investigative magistrate later on during the day.
The ongoing battle between the residents of this northern Greek village and the Skouries mine goes way back. Residents in Ierissos are against the mine which was developed by Hellas Gold and is 95 percent-owned by Vancouver-based Eldorado Gold.
On its part the company says that the Skouries mine would lead to the creation of some 5,000 jobs, whether directly or indirectly, and to raise more than 1.6 billion Euros in tax revenues for the state over the next two decades, but the residents say that if the gold is extracted from here then it would lead to an environmental disaster.
Late on Monday night, tensions broke out in the village of Megali Panaghia (near Skouries) when mine workers and local residents confronted each other as the latter protested the operation of the controversial gold-mining project. Police forces were called to the scene and according to reports stun grenades were used to disperse the angry groups.
(Combined Reports)
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