A GROWING number of gruesome horse murders in France has sparked a panic over potential witchcraft rituals, as police investigate whether ‘satanic cults’ could be behind the spate of mutilations.
In the macabre horse killings, ears have been sliced off, eyes removed, genitals cut, sides slashed and blood drained. The strange mutiliations, where no meat is ever taken from the carcasses, triggered a fear that the removed body parts were being used for “ritual purposes”. A small wooden sculpture believed to be a “voodoo doll” was found at the site of one of the attacks in August. Police are still open to other possibilities of motive, including a viral internet challenge, a group of “horse haters”, or even a series of copycat attacks.
Religious historian Jacky Cordonnier explained the thinking behind the mutiliations: “We sacrifice the animal thinking the energy of the animal and its power will be transferred to us. “They recover blood, the ear, the eye, it’s a ritual of invocation, of bewitchment. It is always the right ear because the left ear is satan.” A police spokeswoman in Paris said: “We do not understand the motivation. “Is it a satanic rite, insurance fraud, some macabre trophy hunt or an internet challenge? We don’t know. It is very traumatising.”
Jean Michel Martinot, a horse breeder whose 14-month-old horse Jade was murdered in one of the attacks, said the killers would be “familiar with horses”. He said: “Jade had strangulation marks. We assume they lassoed her to the tree before stabbing her. “Those who killed Jade cut off her ear, one eye and her genitals. They had a knowledge of horse anatomy.
“When you see this horrible sight you are in shock. It’s foals that you love.”
Jean Michel Martinot, a horse breeder whose 14-month-old horse Jade was killed, said the murderers would be “familiar with horses” (Image: EURONEWS). Agriculture minister Julien Denormandie said he was “ruling out nothing” in the investigation and “all means are in motion to end this terror”.
Last week, police released a facial image of a suspect connected to the murders, based on a description by a horse refuge owner, Nicolas Demajean, who interrupted one attack.
Mr Demajean said the attackers “spoke words in a language I couldn’t understand, I think it must be from eastern Europe”. The maximum penalty in France for serious abuse or cruelty to an animal is two years in jail and a €30,000 fine.
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