Six injured in the first run of the Pamplona bull run

At least six runners were injured during the first bull run of this year's "Sanfermines" festival in Pamplona in northern Spain.

One person suffered head trauma, the other five mainly bruises, a spokesman for the medical service told state TV station RTVE. Several of the injured were taken to hospital. The bulls later died in the bullring.

Impression from Pamplona on July 7.

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The festival in honor of the city's saint San Fermín began the day before and will end next Sunday. Every day from 8 a.m., six bulls, some weighing over 600 kilograms, and several tame leading oxen are chased through the narrow streets of the old town to the arena for the bullfights.

Last fatality in 2009

Dozens of runners are injured every year in the tests of courage of the predominantly young men over the 875-metre course. There have been 16 fatalities since 1924, the last in 2009.

A man is treated by paramedics in Pamplona on July 7.

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Animal rights groups protested against the event again this year. They called the hunt, which has been taking place since 1591, "medieval cruelty" and demanded an end to bull runs and all bloody bullfights.

Despite all the criticism, the city festival continues to enjoy great popularity and attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world every year.