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| Satanic link to Cornwall horse mutilation investigated | Satanic link to Cornwall horse mutilation investigated |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A link between the death of a mutilated horse in Cornwall and a Satanic ritual is being investigated by police. | A link between the death of a mutilated horse in Cornwall and a Satanic ritual is being investigated by police. |
| The two-year-old stallion called Erik was found in a field in Stithians on Monday with horrific injuries to its head and body. | The two-year-old stallion called Erik was found in a field in Stithians on Monday with horrific injuries to its head and body. |
| The savage nature of the attack has prompted speculation it may have been a ritualistic killing. | |
| "Obviously that is one line we're going to pursue - but it isn't the only line," Insp Chris Strickland said. | "Obviously that is one line we're going to pursue - but it isn't the only line," Insp Chris Strickland said. |
| The officer from Devon and Cornwall Police said he was aware of discussions on internet forums about the horse's injuries and said the "horrible" death was being treated extremely seriously. | |
| "But if you have a one-off incident in a remote area it becomes very difficult for us, but that doesn't mean it isn't a priority," he added. | "But if you have a one-off incident in a remote area it becomes very difficult for us, but that doesn't mean it isn't a priority," he added. |
| Initial post-mortem tests were carried out by a vet at the scene and a full forensic examination will be conducted later. | Initial post-mortem tests were carried out by a vet at the scene and a full forensic examination will be conducted later. |
| 'Beyond belief' | |
| A Devon horse lover has offered a £2,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the attacker. | A Devon horse lover has offered a £2,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the attacker. |
| Graham Rickard said: "It's a poor defenceless animal and it's a sick crime. I hope they get caught." | Graham Rickard said: "It's a poor defenceless animal and it's a sick crime. I hope they get caught." |
| The horse was attacked between 16:00 GMT on Sunday and midday on Monday. | |
| Erik's owner Dawn Jewell, who had raised him from a foal, said she had lost "her baby", a Friesian horse she had been wanting since she was a child. | Erik's owner Dawn Jewell, who had raised him from a foal, said she had lost "her baby", a Friesian horse she had been wanting since she was a child. |
| Animal lovers, including the BBC horseracing presenter Clare Balding, have been making their feelings of horror known in large numbers via Twitter. | Animal lovers, including the BBC horseracing presenter Clare Balding, have been making their feelings of horror known in large numbers via Twitter. |
| Maureen Rolls, of South West Equine Protection, said it was the worst case of horse mutilation she had seen in 30 years. | Maureen Rolls, of South West Equine Protection, said it was the worst case of horse mutilation she had seen in 30 years. |
| "It's appalling. We have had cases of cutting the hair on manes and tails, but this is beyond that. | "It's appalling. We have had cases of cutting the hair on manes and tails, but this is beyond that. |
| "I can't understand how anyone could do this. | "I can't understand how anyone could do this. |
| "Killing an animal is one thing, but to go through all that is beyond belief." | "Killing an animal is one thing, but to go through all that is beyond belief." |
| Dawn's mother Vivien Allaway said that the family had been buoyed by support in hundreds of emails. | Dawn's mother Vivien Allaway said that the family had been buoyed by support in hundreds of emails. |
| 'Sickening crime' | |
| "All horsey people are coming together," she said. | "All horsey people are coming together," she said. |
| "All of Dawn's hopes and dreams were tied up in that horse and they have been dashed." | "All of Dawn's hopes and dreams were tied up in that horse and they have been dashed." |
| Det Insp Tony Blatchford said it was one of the worst incidents of cruelty to a horse he had dealt with and he warned all horse owners in rural areas of the county to be vigilant. | Det Insp Tony Blatchford said it was one of the worst incidents of cruelty to a horse he had dealt with and he warned all horse owners in rural areas of the county to be vigilant. |
| He said: "This is a particularly sickening crime. | He said: "This is a particularly sickening crime. |
| "Detectives are following lines of inquiry to try to identify the offender and I'd ask all horse and livestock owners to be particularly vigilant and report anything suspicious to police." | "Detectives are following lines of inquiry to try to identify the offender and I'd ask all horse and livestock owners to be particularly vigilant and report anything suspicious to police." |
| Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed they are investigating an attack on a pony in Carmarthenshire on 5 January which saw the animal suffer similar injuries to Erik. | Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed they are investigating an attack on a pony in Carmarthenshire on 5 January which saw the animal suffer similar injuries to Erik. |