Petra halts Williamson operations after key personnel questioned over seized diamond consignment

London-listed Petra Diamonds on Monday said it had temporarily idled the operations of its 75%-owned Williamson mine, in Tanzania, for “health and safety and security reasons”, as key personnel cooperate with authorities over a blocked diamond shipment. The company on Monday confirmed that a parcel of 71 654.45 ct of diamonds recovered from the mine had been confiscated on route to Petra's marketing office in Antwerp, with certain, undisclosed key personnel from Williamson currently being questioned by the authorities.