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Police at temple to remove Shambo Shambo is removed for slaughter
(about 2 hours later)
Police have been moving protesters who are opposing attempts to take Shambo the "sacred" bullock for slaughter from a multi-faith community in west Wales. Shambo the "sacred" bullock has been taken for slaughter from a multi-faith community in west Wales, after police were drafted in to remove protesters.
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. Over 100 people took part in worship at the Skanda Vale site in Carmarthenshire in a bid to slow Shambo's removal.
Police cleared the area in front of the enclosure by 1715 BST. Earlier, officials were forced to obtain warrants to enter the site, then had to call police to clear the area.
They managed to open the door to the pen by 1800 BST, where they found more protesters waiting inside. At around 1925 BST, government officials loaded Shambo onto a trailer and drove him away. He is expected to be taken to a local abattoir where he will be given a lethal injection.
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. 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 which started when a TB test returned positive in April.
Thursday's action comes after the community finally lost their High Court fight on Monday.
Our concern has always been to minimise distress to the animal throughout this sensitive operation Welsh Assembly Government spokesman
Temple monks had originally been told Shambo would be moved at 0800 BST on Thursday, and they began their protest early outside a temple in which the bullock 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 the officials then immediately left the site after failing to gain access for a second time.
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.
Shambo tested positive in April for exposure to bovine TB
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 Earlier, an assembly government spokesman said they had to wait to be denied access before they could obtain a warrant, adding they had been concerned the bullock might be "getting distressed by the noise and activity around him".
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.
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".
Shambo tested positive in April for exposure to bovine TB
"Our concern has always been to minimise distress to the animal throughout this sensitive operation," he said"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.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 expertShambo 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." And 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. 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, although the monks said the site crashed for a period on Thursday due to the number of visitors.
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."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.