Police hunt 'mad vegetarian' vandalising butchers shops in Bristol

Butchers shops across a city have been repeatedly vandalised in a series of deliberate attacks by a hooded man who smashes their windows. Over the last eight weeks, six family butchers across the Bristol have been targeted 11 times between them. In most instances witnesses have reported a mysterious attacker hurling a brick or concrete block at the shop windows or doors, shattering the glass. But there has never been a break-in, and nothing has ever been stolen.

Butchers are at a loss to explain the apparently mindless violence. They have questioned whether it is the work of animal rights activists, or simply down to one "mad vegetarian". The timing and locations would suggest a link between the attacks – one which is now being investigated by police. Each has taken place in the early hours of the morning when few people are around to witness it, and a number of attacks have taken place on the same nights. Three butchers had their windows smashed overnight on Friday and in the early hours of Saturday, two were targeted from October 28 to 29 and two on September 7.



Four butchers within just a few miles of each other have been attacked eight times – Millhouse Butchers, Molesworths of Henleaze, Gales of Westbury Park and Sheepdrove Organic Farm shop on Lower Redland Road. Banables on Keynsham High Street was also targeted twice, and Powells of Olveston has been attacked once. In one attack the culprit repeatedly hammered away at the reinforced glass of the shop front until it smashed, despite residents of the flat above having called the police.

But there has never been any suggestion as to why the apparently-linked attacks have been carried out. Adrian Cunliffe, director of Millhouse Butchers, said he believed the two attacks on the shop had been the first in its 85-year-history. Mr Cunliffe said: "There has to be a motive so maybe it is animal rights activists or someone with something against butchers. But surely they would put something on the brick or leave a note to say why it has been done, otherwise it would just be mindless vandalism."