Dozens of animal rights demonstrators were hurt during the clearance in Rion-des-Landes, close to the Spanish border in south west France, on Sunday.
Around 80 of them had attended the bullfight, including members of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, which is run by the retired movie star.
One of the eight most seriously hurt was airlifted to hospital in Bordeaux, and has since been placed in an artificial coma because of his head injuries.
“If the barbarity behind the torture of bulls and their bloody deaths are tolerated in certain regions in the name of an obsolete, ridiculous, indecent and sadistic tradition, then the right to protest peacefully should also equally and legally be respected in a democracy,” said Ms Bardot, 78.
The family of the injured man – identified only as Alain – are now set to press criminal charges against the police, saying they caused his injuries on purpose. » | Peter Allen in Paris | Monday, August 26, 2013
