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Police at temple to remove Shambo | Police at temple to remove Shambo |
(10 minutes later) | |
Police have been moving protesters opposing attempts to take Shambo the "sacred" bullock for slaughter from a multi-faith community in west Wales. | |
The Welsh Assembly Government has said Shambo had to be destroyed after testing positive for bovine TB. | The Welsh Assembly Government has said Shambo had to be destroyed after testing positive for bovine TB. |
Earlier, officials had failed to reach Shambo's enclosure at the Skanda Vale site in Carmarthenshire, as more than 100 protesters were worshipping there. | Earlier, officials had failed to reach Shambo's enclosure at the Skanda Vale site in Carmarthenshire, as more than 100 protesters were worshipping there. |
Police successfully cleared the area in front of the enclosure by 1715 BST. | Police successfully cleared the area in front of the enclosure by 1715 BST. |
Officials had served warrants to the temple shortly after 1400 BST, hours after they had been turned away by Hindu monks in an initial visit. | Officials had served warrants to the temple shortly after 1400 BST, hours after they had been turned away by Hindu monks in an initial visit. |
At around 1600 BST, police used bolt cutters to get through the gate and move their vehicles - including an animal trailer and four riot vans - onto the site. | At around 1600 BST, police used bolt cutters to get through the gate and move their vehicles - including an animal trailer and four riot vans - onto the site. |
And more than 20 police officers then started leading or carrying away worshippers from their position directly outside Shambo's enclosure. | And more than 20 police officers then started leading or carrying away worshippers from their position directly outside Shambo's enclosure. |
Speaking after she had been moved, Christine Hough said there was no need to put Shambo down. | Speaking after she had been moved, Christine Hough said there was no need to put Shambo down. |
"He is sacred to these people - he is not in the food chain," she said. | "He is sacred to these people - he is not in the food chain," she said. |
Our concern has always been to minimise distress to the animal throughout this sensitive operation Welsh Assembly Government spokesman | Our concern has always been to minimise distress to the animal throughout this sensitive operation Welsh Assembly Government spokesman |
The slaughter of the six-year-old Freisian, who is officially registered as Bullock UK 742266 200001, would bring to an end a protracted legal battle. | The slaughter of the six-year-old Freisian, who is officially registered as Bullock UK 742266 200001, would bring to an end a protracted legal battle. |
Temple monks were originally told he would be collected at 0800 BST on Thursday, and began their protest early outside a temple in which Shambo is housed, isolated from other animals. | Temple monks were originally told he would be collected at 0800 BST on Thursday, and began their protest early outside a temple in which Shambo is housed, isolated from other animals. |
Assembly government officials turned up to request entry to the site but were refused as they did not have a warrant. | |
Shortly after 1400 BST, they returned with two official warrants which give them permission to enter within one calendar month. | |
But officials then immediately left the site again after failing to gain access for a second time. | |
Earlier, a spokesman said they had to wait to be denied access before they could obtain a warrant, adding they were concerned the bullock might be "getting distressed by the noise and activity around him". | |
Police officers moved onto the temple site at around 1600 BST | Police officers moved onto the temple site at around 1600 BST |
"Our concern has always been to minimise distress to the animal throughout this sensitive operation," he said | |
The action comes after the multi-faith community in Carmarthenshire, finally lost their High Court bid to save Shambo. | |
The Welsh Assembly Government has said it is aiming to protect human and animal health and has appealed for co-operation, but the monks had warned officials would have to interrupt worship to remove the animal. | The Welsh Assembly Government has said it is aiming to protect human and animal health and has appealed for co-operation, but the monks had warned officials would have to interrupt worship to remove the animal. |
Supporters from as far afield as New Zealand and Switzerland said they would take part in a pooja ceremony celebrating the sanctity of life at the temple enclosure where the animal is being kept. | |
"They will have to physically desecrate a temple to get him," said one of the monks, Brother Michael on Wednesday night. | "They will have to physically desecrate a temple to get him," said one of the monks, Brother Michael on Wednesday night. |
"He's locked here and we will be having an act of worship in front of where he is. | "He's locked here and we will be having an act of worship in front of where he is. |
Shambo monks wrong, says expert | Shambo monks wrong, says expert |
Protester Dave Husseina, from Oxford, added: "I'm prepared to put myself in front of the line to protect the bull." | Protester Dave Husseina, from Oxford, added: "I'm prepared to put myself in front of the line to protect the bull." |
The monks have fought a campaign since a TB test returned positive in April, saying they were guarding against Shambo infecting other animals by keeping him in a separate pen. | The monks have fought a campaign since a TB test returned positive in April, saying they were guarding against Shambo infecting other animals by keeping him in a separate pen. |
An online petition has attracted 20,000 signatures and the bullock's supporters have also been able to keep up to date with his movements via a webcam. | An online petition has attracted 20,000 signatures and the bullock's supporters have also been able to keep up to date with his movements via a webcam. |
But the monks have faced opposition from many quarters, including the farming sector, where Shambo is seen as a disease risk to livestock. | But the monks have faced opposition from many quarters, including the farming sector, where Shambo is seen as a disease risk to livestock. |
Brian Walters, vice president of the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW), said: "We have to follow the rules like everybody else and I won't say we don't have sympathy because the farmers who've lost cattle do sympathise." | |
Last week, a High Court judge gave the community hope when he ruled that two slaughter orders for Shambo "were unlawful and will be quashed". | Last week, a High Court judge gave the community hope when he ruled that two slaughter orders for Shambo "were unlawful and will be quashed". |
But on Monday, his ruling was overturned by the appeal court in London. | But on Monday, his ruling was overturned by the appeal court in London. |