Dozens of animal rights protesters held at Dutch pig farm

Dutch police have arrested 77 protesters at a pig farm in Boxtel, province of North Brabant on Monday night, the public prosecutor announced on Tuesday.

In total 76 animal rights activists, who protested against the treatment of the pigs and invaded and occupied the farm, and 1 counter-demonstrator, were arrested. Twelve of them were arrested for not willing or not being able to show their identity papers.

The protesters partly came from the Netherlands, but also from various European countries such as Britain, Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Greece, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

All arrested suspects were taken to the police station for further investigation after they refused to leave the farm.

An investigation has started into the destruction of the entrance door of a stable and into the destruction of some cars of the activists. Almost all of the activists invoked their right to remain silent.