The HSA have released this news release....here we go again.

What are YOU doing this season?

Yesterday (30 October) a group of hunt saboteurs were attacked by a gang of hunt
supporters at the opening meet of the Old Surrey, Burstow and West Kent Hunt and
one was KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS WITH AN IRON BAR and ridden over by a huntsman. 6
received cuts to their eyes, lips and heads and others received bruising. An
ambulance was called for the saboteur, who was unconscious for several minutes.
He was checked over but did not want to attend hospital.

The incident occurred as the hunt appeared to be packing up at 3.15 p.m.
following the meet at Lock Skinners Farm, Penshurst, Kent. The group of
saboteurs were observing the hunt from a nearby field. One witness described how
a mounted hunt member shouted "come on then" and 2 vehicles raced across the
field. Men armed with lumps of timber, sticks and an iron bar jumped out and
attacked the saboteurs, joined by riders with the hunt and terriermen. The
witness said "It was obviously planned".

Lewis, an eighteen year old protestor who was attacked and sustained a deep cut
to the back of the head, described what happened: "The hunt supporters had been
verbally aggressive all day and it seems that when there was a small group of us
on our own they sprang a trap. There were about twenty riders some in red coats,
some in black.

"The huntsman Mark Bycroft set it up. He kept riding his horse into me and when
I turned and pushed him away the terrierman hit me with a right hook. After that
he [Mark Bycroft] stood up and beckoned. Vehicles came into the field and a lot
of men with weapons got out and ran at us. It was an ambush we didn't stand a
chance".

Emma (30), was also attacked: "There was a large group of hunt supporters who
were obviously up for a fight. There were three of them hitting and kicking one
of my friends on the floor. I went to pull them off and one of them hit me with
a stick in the face. My nose immediately started pouring blood; I was shocked
and terrified."

One saboteur who recorded the attack was targeted and told how the huntsman,
Mark Bycroft, shouted "Get him with the video camera" and rode over him. The
camera, containing vital evidence of the attack, was stolen.

Sean (35) had a video camera at the scene and was trying to get footage of the
attackers: "There was a large group of men in vehicles with bits of wood and
iron bars. I was videoing the violence when Mark Bycroft shouted 'Get the
camera'. He then rode me down and I was attacked on the ground by a number of
men who ripped the camera out of my hands. It was stolen from me and the police
seem totally unconcerned that 'robbery with violence' has occurred. I can't
imagine that would be the case if this had happened the other way around! They
and the hunt are a disgrace."

Despite the seriousness of the attack and the fact that the stolen video camera
would still have been in the area, police near the scene showed no interest. The
police had been warned at the start of the day that the hunt were notorious for
their violence towards protestors.

Nathan Brown, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association said, "This was a
serious attack and we are very lucky not to be reporting another death. Hunt
saboteurs are on the receiving end of the violent backlash and campaign of
intimidation against a possible hunt ban. This is the true face of the so-called
respectable minority that the Countryside Alliance and their friends in the
House of Lords are protecting. The Government should ensure that it does not
appease these violent bullies and must use the Parliament Act to ban the animal
cruelty that is hunting once and for all."

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!UNTIL ALL ARE FREE!
Shropshire Animal Action

www.geocities.com/animals_salop/
07986 079514

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