Animal rights activists have been “sprayed with manure” after being confronted by angry farmers during a protest at the largest beef industry event in Britain.
The incident took place today outside Darlington Farmers Auction Mart (DFAM) in Durham County, as protests led to a protester being taken to hospital.
The photos showed activists in the mask of the Animal Justice Project (AJP) standing on the roof of the building with banners and sprinkling colored smoke flares.
A spokesman for the group said the activists were left “covered in excrement” after an event attendee allegedly used a sprayer to throw manure at them.
Another activist was said to have been injured after farmers allegedly plowed into a group of protesters on a JCB excavator.
The AJP said its protest was “peaceful” and “silent” and aimed to highlight “the suffering of farm animals and concerns for environmental safety”.
Image: Image: Animal Justice Project / PA
But an AJP spokesman added: “A farmer sprayed us with cow dung with a machine.
“It has been a peaceful protest and a silent protest and we are overwhelmed and overwhelmed by hundreds of angry farmers.
“It’s very violent and there was a farmer who was spraying everyone’s clothes. Screaming, swearing, sprinkling manure on us, he tore up the banners. It’s absurd.”
The National Beef Association (NBA) described the event as a celebration of the best British beef that attracts at least 5,000 guests each year.
The group said the agricultural event “glorifies the exploitation and killing of animals”, which is “fundamentally wrong and unfair”.
Police have been on the scene since 5 a.m. working to end the rally, but activists said they intend to remain indefinitely.
“This is bullying”
Mark Dent, president of DFAM, said earlier that he believed the protesters were the source of “intimidation”.
He said: “We respect the right of people to protest, but the way they do it does not help their cause.
“There is no respect for property or people’s lives. I’m afraid then you lose your moral level … It’s a tin roof and they jump up and down, and it’s bending.
“They have their faces covered. It’s intimidating (and) threatening behavior. I’m in favor of people protesting what they believe in, but it’s the way they do it: they cover their face, intimidation.”
He added: “If you have a pair of eyes, you’ll see how important agriculture is around the world right now. Food is high on the agenda.”
An NBA spokesman said there was a “wonderful atmosphere” at the event and did not comment further on the protest.
Durham police said: “Our officers are working to end the protest and minimize the impact on the community at large.”