The Sobeval slaughterhouse is blocked by animal rights activists

Around 1 a.m., around thirty activists entered the empty premises of the Sobeval slaughterhouse in Boulazac-Isle-Manoire. This was far from an isolated action, as it was coordinated across Europe. "Last night, around a hundred activists from the association entered six slaughterhouses located in France and the Netherlands to blockade them," says Tiphaine Lagarde, co-founder of the association. The aim of this protest was to "oppose the killing of hundreds of animals every day in the VanDrie group's slaughterhouses, particularly calves," the spokesperson summarized.

Thus, the thirty or so activists chained themselves to the slaughter line overnight before being removed by police officers from the Périgueux police station and the CRS company from Montauban (Tarn-et-Garonne), who came as reinforcements. All 27 activists from the association, founded in 2015, were arrested. "There were only activists of Italian or Spanish origin to avoid actual legal convictions," Tiphaine Lagarde emphasizes. "The French were in the Netherlands to block four slaughterhouses there." Members of the association also blocked the Tendriade slaughterhouse in the Ille-et-Vilaine department.

The Rural Coordination's outburst of anger

For its part, the company, through a press release, condemned "in the strongest terms the intrusions and damage perpetrated last night by radicalized anti-speciesist activists." Thanks to the rapid intervention of law enforcement, operations were able to resume without delay. The company reiterated that it "strictly complies with all applicable laws and regulations" and commended its teams "who demonstrated composure and determination in the face of these events."

The 27 protesters were taken into custody on charges of trespassing and group vandalism, according to the Périgueux public prosecutor. Evidence of forced entry was observed, particularly at an entrance. An investigation has been opened and entrusted to the national police and the gendarmerie. Investigations are continuing.

Having learned of the intrusion, the Dordogne Rural Coordination strongly disapproves of the intrusion by activists from the 269 Animal Liberation association and is not being kind to them. "These extremist, harmful activists must be condemned with the utmost severity. They are not sweet dreamers, they are dangerous agitators, fanatics ready to do anything to destroy our agricultural model." Before adding that "France does not need these moralizing people who live off the ground. It needs farmers" and that the Rural Coordination "will continue to produce quality meat with passion and know-how."