A group of about 50 unknown assailants attacked the Hellas Gold mining site located in Skouries, in Halkidiki, northern Greece, in the early hours of Sunday.

According to early reports the hooded suspects tied up and doused the security guards on duty with gasoline before setting fire to about a dozen company vehicles and equipment.

One security guard was injured during the assault and was transferred to a local hospital.

There has been extensive opposition to the mining project developed by Hellas Gold, a subsidiary of Canadian firm Eldorado Gold, with opponents arguing that the mine will lead to the destruction of the local forest and create vast damage to the ecosystem.