Animal Rights Activists Occupy Slaughterhouse in Oensingen
In the early hours of Wednesday, activists from the association «269 Libération Animale» stormed a slaughterhouse belonging to Swiss meat processor Bell. According to the association, 134 activists from England, Belgium, France, Italy and Switzerland have been on site in the canton of Solothurn since around 2.30 a.m., blocking Bell's operations and workflows.
In the early hours of Wednesday, activists from the association «269 Libération Animale» stormed a slaughterhouse belonging to Swiss meat processor Bell. According to the association, 134 activists from England, Belgium, France, Italy and Switzerland have been on site in the canton of Solothurn since around 2.30 a.m., blocking Bell's operations.
Banners read: «Let us block everything, resist together with the oppressed.» Bell's 70 employees were sent home. Farmers who had wanted to deliver their animals were turned away.
Large Police Presence on Site
Police were first alerted shortly after 2 a.m. On Wednesday morning, a large contingent was deployed on Dünnernstrasse. The demonstrators were given an ultimatum to vacate the Bell production facility. According to police, the situation is peaceful and calm.
The activists intend to «resist in the death row» and remain chained until evacuated by police. Every day, thousands of cattle and calves are transported to slaughterhouses across Switzerland.
Bell Hopes for Peaceful Withdrawal
"We are still in talks with the individuals inside the building," confirms Andreas Mock of the Solothurn Cantonal Police.
The Bell Food Group is a subsidiary of Coop Switzerland. Around 12’000 employees generate an annual turnover of four billion francs. More on Animal Rights.
