London Indymedia

Saboteurs driven at, ridden over, whipped but undeterred at last few hunts

Nels Sab | 11.02.2005 11:28 | Animal Liberation | London

HSA news release 9th February 2005
Hunt saboteurs were mowed down by a terrierman on a quad bike and then whipped and ridden over by a huntsman as they tried to stop one of the last legal fox hunts in Essex today.

essex huntsman attacks
essex huntsman attacks

same huntsman attacks female sab
same huntsman attacks female sab

same huntsman different sab
same huntsman different sab

Terrierman on quad bike drives into sab
Terrierman on quad bike drives into sab


HSA news release 9th February 2005

Saboteurs driven at, ridden over, whipped but undeterred at last few hunts

Hunt saboteurs were mowed down by a terrierman on a quad bike and then whipped and ridden over by a huntsman as they tried to stop one of the last legal fox hunts in Essex today.

A terrierman with the Essex Farmers and Union Hunt, who had met at at Bois Hall, Kelvedon, deliberately drove his quad bike into a group of 9 hunt saboteurs as they were on a footpath attempting to stop the hunt from killing foxes.

One of the saboteurs managed to scramble out of the way and received a glancing blow from the vehicle. At the same time, a mounted rider with the hunt, started riding into the group and lashed out with his whip.

Most of the group managed to hide under a tree, but one of the saboteurs was cracked on the head with the rider's whip. When one of the group shouted "Don't hit women", he responded by shouting "I don't give a f*** about hitting women." Another 3 saboteurs were ridden into and whipped by the same rider. as they tried to help their colleague. As the group tried to make their way to safety, one of them lost his footing.

The rider of the quad bike deliberately drove at speed at the saboteur lying on the floor. The saboteur narrowly missed being hit by the wheels of the quad bike but was struck by a wooden box on the front of the vehicle containing terriers used to locate foxes in their earths. A witness said "He very nearly went under the wheels. It was clear that the terrierman's intention was to run him over."

The saboteurs remained in the area, managing to call hounds away from a fox they were chasing. Both wing mirrors of the group's Land Rover were smashed.

The saboteurs logged 3 allegations of assault and one of criminal damage with police at Brentwood police station.

Hunt Saboteurs Association spokesperson Nathan Brown said "The wave of violence we have experienced since the Hunting Act was passed serves as a reminder of the torment and violence suffered by the animals who are hunted. It would be naive not to expect to see more trouble before the ban comes in, and after it. We will not be deterred from stopping hunts regardless of whether they are legal or not. "

Notes for Editors:
Eye witnesses and film footage available: North and East London Hunt Sabs - Contact HSA Press Officer, Nathan Brown 07815 313181

Ends

Timeline: the recent wave of violence against anti-hunt protestors since the Hunting Act was passed...

* 18 November 2004
Parliament passes Hunting Bill. Hunting to be illegal on 19th February.
* 20 November
3 saboteurs injured. One has to undergo emergency surgery to save his finger. South Devon Hunt, Devon
* 27 November
Saboteur receives 5 stitches to head wound after attack. High Peak Harriers, Derbyshire
17 year old saboteur receives broken nose after repeatedly headbutted. Crawley and Horsham Hunt, West Sussex
* 4 December
Saboteurs threatened by terrierman wearing balaclava. Numerous assaults on saboteurs including a broken nose. Essex Farmers and Union/East Essex Hunt, Essex
* 11 December
Saboteur's wrist broken in 2 places by terrierman. Essex Hunt, Essex Saboteur threatened by hunt supporter in front of police. High Peak Harriers, Derbyshire
* 18 December
Saboteur ridden over by hunt rider twice. Essex Farmers and Union Hunt, Essex.
Saboteurs punched and equipment stolen. Attempts made to smash saboteur's van window with log. Van whipped, kicked and thumped. Attempts made to drag saboteurs from van. Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt, Dorset.
* 24 December
2 cars smashed up and dead fox left on passenger seat of car. Chiddingfold Leconfield and Cowdray Hunt, West Sussex
* 27 December
Saboteurs threatened with knife. One ridden down. Hunt supporters then armed themselves with iron bars and sticks. Weston and Banwell Harriers, Somerset.
2 saboteurs rugby tackled to ground. Puckeridge Hunt, Suffolk.
* 31 December
12 hunt saboteurs injured by mob of 30 thugs. East Essex Hunt, Essex.
* 1 January 2005
Pregnant woman taken to hospital with head injuries after being whipped and ridden over twice by hunt staff. Essex Hunt, Essex.
* 3 January
Hunt monitor's car destroyed in arson attack. West Sussex
* 4 January
2 saboteurs receive facial injuries and equipment is stolen. Surrey Union Hunt, Surrey.
* 8 January
4 female saboteurs attacked receiving limb injuries / fractures, vehicle badly damaged. Crawley & Horsham Hunt, West Sussex.
* 15 January
Saboteurs threatened and attacked, vehicle damaged. Cotswold Vale Hunt, Gloucestershire.
* 20 January
Hunt supporter armed with a metal spike punctures sab Landrover door, barely missing the driver's leg. Duke of Beaufort's Hunt, Wiltshire
* 22 January
60 year old female aboteurs ridden down - receives head and neck injuries. Dunston Harriers, Norfolk.
* 29 January
2 hunt ‘stewards’ arrested after attack on hunt saboteurs. Avon Vale Fox Hunt, Wiltshire.
* 05 February
2 hunt saboteurs injured, 15 attacked by 30 hunt thugs. East Kent Fox Hunt, Kent.
* 05 February
Hunt saboteurs threatened with violence by hunt followers in front of police, obstruction and theft from motor vehicle ignored. Hampshire Fox Hunt, Hampshire.

Nels Sab
- e-mail: saboteur666@hotmail.com
- Homepage: http://www.nels.org.uk

Comments

Hide the following 5 comments

terrorism

11.02.2005 12:35

A shame this new legislation being brought in is being using in a discriminatory way to target those the authorities deem to be 'terrorists'or 'extremists'. No doubt such behaviour wouldn't come under the new laws. It seems the cowardly violence of hunters towards unarmed sabs goes unpunished whereas damage to property will be pursued with all resources the police can muster. What is the point of peaceful protest when the police are unwilling to pursue thugs just because they own land and/or have a bloodlust.In a civilised society these scenes would long be a thing of the past.

anti-terrorist


meaningful title

11.02.2005 13:29

just smack the twats back :)

anarchkit


Anarkit? All mouth

13.02.2005 17:56

Thanks for the advice, may sound easy from your armchair anarkit, whilst wearing your black jumper sporting a big red anarchy A, no doubt. But hitting twats whilst they are trying to kill or seriously injure you on a quad bike and a horse travelling at speed isn't that simple.
I think I may have met you at demo's before, while I was at the front where the action was kicking off, you were way behind, throwing bricks and bottles at the back of my head instead of the intended target.
Show us what you are made of and come out sabbing, but please don't wear the jumper. All black or all cammo only.
Nels Sab

sab


Sabbing ?

13.02.2005 19:09

Or perhaps you could do what most sabs do and avoid direct confrontation with men prefering to pick on young women or even girls. As we saw in Glos. recently when two sabs were very big and brave when they were facing a 16 year old girl but not quite so brave when her brother turned up !

Hunter


Oh my god!

17.03.2006 12:31

What a load of bull! A group of 30 thugs? A dead fox left on the seat of a car? You portray hunting as if its all about cruelty. It shows what little understanding and one mindedness you have on such a tradition. As for the "attacks", they would not be unprovoked. What about injurys to the huntmans, field, followers, horses, hounds and damage to their vechicles? You cannot say there are no benefits, nor can you say you are the innocent party. Would the hunt delibratley sabatage one of your events? Of course not. The hunt respects that people may not agree with hunting, but what does anyone agree on? Do something useful and protest against rape and gun crime. The fox is not a cute fluffy thing, but vermin. They need to be controlled. Which is worse, a gun shot that goes astray and leaves the animal injured and prolongs suffering, or an ensured, quick death? The majority of foxes found get away, the sick, old and injured may not. It is these that prey on lambs, chickens and alike. In this way, we ensure a healthy, well managed fox population exists.

G. Johnson


Kollektives

Birmingham
Cambridge
Liverpool
London
Oxford
Sheffield
South Coast
Wales
World

Other UK IMCs
Bristol/South West
London
Northern Indymedia
Scotland

London Topics

Afghanistan
Analysis
Animal Liberation
Anti-Nuclear
Anti-militarism
Anti-racism
Bio-technology
Climate Chaos
Culture
Ecology
Education
Energy Crisis
Fracking
Free Spaces
Gender
Globalisation
Health
History
Indymedia
Iraq
Migration
Ocean Defence
Other Press
Palestine
Policing
Public sector cuts
Repression
Social Struggles
Technology
Terror War
Workers' Movements
Zapatista

London IMC

Desktop

About | Contact
Mission Statement
Editorial Guidelines
Publish | Help

Search :