Investigation exposes plan by up to 100 Animal Rebellion activists to sabotage Grand National I Daily Mail Online
18/05/2023, 12:42
'You're all on to the track now and you start... gluing your hands to each other and walking towards the crowd and you can see 50,000 people screaming and shouting at you and they're getting quite mad and security [are] running towards you,' she added. 'You keep walking and you feel fearless and powerful and then you sit down and you're all in line together. You feel so excited and proud to stand alongside individuals making history.' Ms Patterson revealed how Animal Rebellion's leaders had previously planned to sneak on to the course the night before the race and dig up the turf. That plan, however, was ditched because it was decided it would be 'way more powerful' for hundreds of people to storm on to the course. Ms Patterson also disclosed that the plot ringleaders have already visited Aintree twice to identify weak spots, adding: 'We walked round the perimeter and on the track as well.' She added that some stretches of the fence are only 5ft 5in high. 'The track is huge, so security focus on where the spectators are but we are not going to go over there - it'll be further down.' - The group will do a final reconnaissance mission once the three-day race meeting has started to identify exactly where security guards and police officers have been positioned. Activists involved in the protest will be split into small teams known as 'pods' and managed by one team leader, known as 'the stem', who will be issued with a so- called 'burner phone' - a mobile phone bought for a specific use that can be discarded. One of the activists, who has taken part in a string of Animal Rebellion stunts, said that the protesters should remain on the course until they are either arrested or dragged away. 'The aim is to stop the event from happening and so we wouldn't want to give them the visual of us standing up and walking away at any point,' she said. Those who wanted to take part in the action were asked to join a group on the encrypted app Signal entitled 'The Race'. Last night it had 120 members. The final exercise of the training day involved the activists simulating trying to force their way through a line of security guards. 'This is private property, call the police,' shouted one of the ringleaders as he pretended to be a security guard. Some of those at the training voiced their reservations about breaking the law, with one activist named Liam saying he was 'not thrilled about getting arrested'. Last night Tory MP Damian Green, acting chairman of the Commons Culture Select Committee, condemned the 'appalling' plot. He said: 'I'm glad this has been exposed by The Mail on Sunday. Millions of people love the Grand National and love horses as well. I can't think of a worse way of advertising your campaign, if you claim to love horses.' Tory MP Alicia Kearns said: 'Using these sorts of tactics to impose their militant opposition to meat-eating will only backfire. At least hopefully less police time will be wasted thanks to the Mail on Sunday's investigation.' Merseyside Police said it has 'a robust policing plan in place for Aintree', adding: 'We respect the right to peaceful protest and expression of views, but public order or criminal offences will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.'
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The Jockey Club, which owns Aintree racecourse, declined to comment last night.
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