Guardia Civil investigates illegal shooting of runaway bull in Gátova, Spain

During the "bous al carrer" festivities on 18 July in Gátova, Valencia, a failure of the animal‑containment system allowed seven cattle—including a bull—to escape onto public streets. The Guardia Civil deployed ground patrols, SEPRONA agents and an aerial unit, warning the festival director that firearms could only be used with explicit government authorization. In the early hours of 19 July, the director allegedly gave a verbal order to a local hunter to neutralise the bull. The hunter fired a hunting rifle at close range, striking the animal twice and causing its immediate death near a residential area. The director is now being investigated for alleged administrative prevarication, while the hunter faces charges of illegal animal killing. SEPRONA is leading the investigation.