Climate activists have reportedly been plotting to “ruin” the Grand National by staging a protest at the big event on April 15. Members of Animal Rebellion, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, plan to form a human barricade across the course at Aintree after sneaking into the event with ladders and bolt cutters, according to reports.
In undercover Mail on Sunday footage, a woman can be heard saying to a group of people: “Basically the kick-off action for this whole campaign is going to be at the Grand National. The biggest horse race in the world.
“We have 600 million people viewing this horse race worldwide, we’ve got £300 million of bets on the horse race and we’re just going to ruin it.”
People could be heard laughing after the woman spoke of attempting to ruin the event, which is reportedly the first of the group’s racing targets. The newspaper reports more than 100 activists had signed up to take part, with the climate group planning to take them to the racecourse in mini buses.
In another clip, a female voice could be heard talking about the plan, saying: “There are like 100 of you now at the fence. You get the ladders out. Put them up against the fence and you’re the first one over.
“You start climbing that fence and you see security on the other side. You don’t care, you know you’re doing the right thing.”
They then plan to glue themselves to the course, it is reported.
Lovers of the National were quick to condemn the ‘vegan mob’, with one person writing on social media: “Time we just started ripping these people off whatever they glue themselves to, a few massive sores will soon encourage them to not do it.”
Another added: “The police should stop messing about. No hours spent getting ‘experts’ in with special solvents., just rip them off the ground. Their choice, their consequences.”
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