Furious butchers chase animal rights activists out of London's Smithfield meat market as attempted demo ends in farce
- Video shows group of DxE protestors getting chased out of market by butchers
- The furious altercation took place at Smithfield Market in London last Friday
- Historic market has previously been targeted by Animal Rebellion protestors
Vegans have been filmed in a spat with furious butchers, who chased them out of a meat market in central London.
The fight involving members of the group Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) took place at Smithfield Market, which was last year targeted by Animal Rebellion activists.
The group claim butchers 'threw eggs and frozen animal parts at them' during the altercation in Farringdon.
In heated video footage, protestors claim they were 'simply standing up for animal rights' before being frogmarched out of the 900-year-old market by butchers clad in white coats.
The group claim butchers 'threw eggs and frozen animal parts at them' during the altercation in Farringdon
In heated video footage, protestors claim they were 'simply standing up for animal rights' before being frogmarched out of the 900-year-old market
The altercation took place at the 800-year-old Smithfield Market in London
'We will not back down until the killings stop Smithfield Market!'
The protestors added: 'But what can you expect from people who enjoy cutting up bodies.'
Members of the group claim they were sprayed with ice water, kicked and punched.
In the clip, sirens can be heard wailing in the background and suddenly a man is sent sprawling to the floor of the historic meat market.
A furious fight ensues between the two groups, with punches thrown by both sides.
The person filming is then approached by one of the men in white who tells them to stop filming, as people begin to stream out of the market, shepherded by men in high vis jackets.
The dramatic video appeared on social media a couple of days after the event.
DxE is an international movement with several UK subgroups.
They say their actions are done to 'denormalise activities that involve animal exploitation through non violent disruption.'
Brighton has seen a number of protests in restaurants led by Direct Action Everywhere, with members ending up in court because of their demonstrations.
They previously raided a McDonald's wearing pig and chicken masks before spraying fake blood on the floor.
Last year, a male Pizza Express customer punched a female vegan activist in the face after the group stormed a branch of the restaurant in Brighton.
In January, DxE activists invaded Brighton supermarkets, including Sainsbury's and Aldi to protest against their selling of free-range eggs.
Members of the Extinction Rebellion spin-off Animal Rebellion clashed with traders at the same site exactly one year ago.
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The footage was posted online by the DxE group, which said on Facebook: 'The butchers at Smithfield Market in London city mob peaceful activists who are simply standing up for animal rights'
A furious fight ensues between the two groups, with punches thrown by both sides.
Last October, climate change protesters occupied part of London's Smithfield Market as they urged the UK to transition to a vegan diet.
Dozens of campaigners set up fruit and vegetable stalls in protest of the meat industry.
One man was arrested as up to 400 protesters set up camp and filled stalls with 'food that will make up our future food system' during the 18-hour protest.
Smithfield Market confirmed the incident took place on Friday, October 9, but declined to comment further.
Extinction Rebellion said the protestors were not from their group.
City of London Police confirmed that the men in hi-vis vests were not their officers and said they had received no reports of the incident.
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