Bull run in Pamplona ends mildly despite nasty scenes

This was fewer than in previous races, in which five to six of the participants ended up in hospital. Commentators on the state TV station RTVE expressed relief because there were some dangerous scenes during the wild chase with six wild bulls through the narrow streets.

One bull got one of its long pointed horns caught in the clothing of one of the runners and lifted him into the air, but then charged on. The young man, his face contorted with pain, held his stomach and rolled under a side railing to safety. There he was treated by paramedics. However, he apparently did not suffer any serious injuries.

Animal rights activists complain that for the animals, the bull run is nothing more than a panicked escape through crowds of people they are completely unaccustomed to. It is cruelty to animals that must be stopped immediately. The bulls die after the run in the bullring. Despite the criticism, the centuries-old festival in honor of the city's patron saint Fermín is becoming increasingly popular.

The traditional festival began on Saturday and ends next Sunday. Every day at 8 a.m. sharp, six fighting bulls weighing around 600 kilograms and several tame leading oxen are chased through the narrow streets of the old town to the arena.

Dozens of runners are injured every year during the test of courage of the predominantly young men over the more than 800 meter long course. There have been 16 fatalities since 1924, the last in 2009. There are eight runs in total.

In addition to the bull runs, the city festival also features numerous other cultural events for families and children.