Butchers in the UK and Europe are issuing a plea for police protection following a spate of attacks from vegan activists, reportedly aiming to spread terror among meat lovers.
It's led to a group of French butchers asking for the interior minister to intervene, after "physical, verbal and moral" attacks from vegans and animal rights groups.
The meat-sellers in the land of steak frites told The Telegraph that animosity against their profession is being "fuelled by heavy media exposure to the anti-meat cause".
The paper reports a rotisserie in Lille, northern France, was vandalised - the fourth of its kind in a matter of weeks. In northern France, seven butchers and charcuteries were sprayed with false blood in April.
Last month a butcher's shop in Kent in the UK was vandalised by vegan activists, with the family who run it telling The Independent they now "live in fear" on a daily basis.
Marlow Butchers, which is run by Trevor Marlow alongside his sons Martin and Wayne, was first subjected to an attack on May 7.
Their storefront was graffitied with the messages 'stop killing animals' and 'go vegan', in addition to a symbol for the Animal Liberation Front.
Wayne Marlow told the paper they suffered smashed windows and even threats of petrol bomb attacks.
"We live in fear and we're up worrying at night - they are terrorising us," he said.
In May, a vegan in France was arrested after posting a Facebook message offering "zero sympathy" for a butcher killed by an Islamist militant during an attack
The vegan appeared before a judge on a charge of condoning terrorism, which carries a maximum jail sentence of five years and a fine of €75,000 (NZ$127,650).
Newshub.
