Police make multiple arrests during animal right protest at Grand National. (Credit: Animal Rising via Storyful) The day started with three people arrested in connection with a plan by the activists to disrupt the race.
All three were arrested on "suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance," police said. Their names were not disclosed."We respect the right to peaceful protest and expression of views," Merseyside Police said, "but criminal behavior and disorder will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly."Animal Rising had called on protesters to gather outside the racecourse to demand an end to "animal cruelty for entertainment." The group tweeted a video that it said shows one of its spokespeople being arrested at the protest.Police said they have been working with race organizers ahead of and during the Grand National Festival, which started Thursday.Animal Rising activist Alex Lockwood this week told British radio station talkSPORT that they planned to disrupt the Grand National, arguing that standing outside and handing out fliers "never stopped anything."Animal activists hold protest at Grand National. (Credit: Animal Rising via Storyful) Further inflaming matters was the news that two horses — Dark Raven and Hill Sixteen — died in races at Aintree on Saturday.
Hill Sixteen was in the field for the Grand National and died after sustaining an "unrecoverable injury," organizers said.On Thursday, another horse — Envoye Special — suffered a fatal injury in the Foxhunters’ Chase, which is run over the fences used for the Grand National."This horrific ‘sport’ continues to take lives right in front of our eyes.