News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

This is the distressing moment a bull winces in pain before being set on fire during a traditional Spanish ritual.

Video taken by animal activists in Spain shows the bull being dragged to a wooden post so that metal braces can be fixed to its horns.

A man then approaches the animal and sets the braces on fire before cutting loose to let the beast run around the ring.

Dozens of spectators, including young children, cheer in high spirits as some of them are seen running after the bull, grabbing its tails, tossing sand and bottles at the defenceless animal.

(Image: Credit: Pen News)

The bull was trapped in a metal cage where it was later believed to be put down with a knife.

Activists from 'Animal Guardians' and 'Torture Is Not Culture' said the 'fire bull' event took place at La Vall d'Uixó, eastern Spain.

Vets say the bulls were terrified of the fire, which left burning embers falling on their faces and bodies.

Jose Enrique Zaldívar, president of AVATMA – a veterinary group campaigning against events like these, said the “disorientation, anxiety, fear, and anguish” of the bulls was great, even without fire.

But once the flames took hold, he said, it only got worse.

(Image: Credit: Pen News)

“Once the balls or torches that are placed on their horns are lit, the presence of fire causes the animal to be terrified,” he said.

“Since it is instinctively identified as another danger sign, it increases his stress and anguish much more.”

Activists are now preparing an official complaint to the regional government of Castellón, who they say gave promotional and financial support to the event.

(Image: Credit: Pen News)

The video seems to show a knife present as the bulls are led into a box, which is traditionally used to deliver the coup de grâce.

Marta Esteban, of Animal Guardians, said: “When they use adult bulls like these which have never been in a bullfight, the regulations say they must be taken to the slaughterhouse alive.

“It is considered a ‘very serious infringement’ of the law not to do so.

“But then we saw that they introduced the typical knife that it is used in traditional bullfights to give the bull the coup de grace.”

(Image: Credit: Pen News)

Jose Cubells, of Torture is Not Culture, said the alleged killing was just one of several breaches they witnessed.

“We have observed numerous infractions, such as the throwing of sand, bottles, and clothing at the animals’ faces, the latter of which could have caught fire and burned the animals,” he said.

“We also observed kicking the animals from behind the bars and introducing the animals into the boxes with their horns still on fire, which could have set fire to the whole structure.

“We are preparing an official complaint for the Territorial Unit of Castellón.”

In different parts of the video, a child is heard asking in Spanish “will they kill him?” and “why do they kill him?”

Marta said: “Naturally, children do not understand how adults find the suffering of animals entertaining, much less that they kill them for the same reason.

“These shows distort the vision children have of animals, warping the innate empathy they feel towards them, and teaching them that violence, in this case, is fun – which can be very dangerous for a child’s education.”