Animal Rising Storms Aintree: Grand National Chaos
Animal Rising protesters, formerly Animal Rebellion, sparked chaos at Aintree today. Dressed as fans, they flooded the racecourse, gluing themselves to jumps and scaling fences with ladders. Others blocked roads, causing major delays.
Delays and Disruption on Race Day
The 123 train to Aintree was held up for over an hour as demonstrators in bright pink T-shirts sat on the highway and blocked access. Their aim? To protest the Grand National’s ongoing animal welfare issues.
Police Crackdown: 118 Arrested Amid Mayhem
Assistant Chief Constable Paul White confirmed 118 people were detained for criminal damage and public nuisance. The arrests include both pre-race detentions and those connected to the earlier M57 motorway protest, where activists glued themselves to the tarmac.
“There were large numbers attempting to enter the course from various points along the four to five-kilometre perimeter,” said White. “With 123 officers deployed, we managed to stop most attempts and ensure the event went ahead, albeit slightly delayed.”
Heavy Police Presence Secures Grand National
Despite the disruption, police and organisers worked together to keep the event running smoothly. The substantial police presence protected the safety of all involved — both human and equine — at one of the UK’s biggest sporting events.
