Bull kills man and injures two others at festival in Spain

A rampaging bull killed one person and injured three others at a village festival in Spain.

The animal smashed through a metal safety barrier and attacked a group of people before a traditional bull-running event.

Video footage shows how the bull , which was supposed to "run" with other beasts through the streets of Pantoja, broke free before goring an onlooker and spreading panic among others.

A 74-year-old man died from wounds caused by the bull's horns.

Another male pensioner, 83, and a woman, 55, were also taken to a hospital in Toledo, with one described as being in a very serious condition.

A four-year-old girl suffered cuts during the rampage but was reported to have recovered quickly.

A day of mourning

The dead man was from Illescas, a town about seven miles away from Pantoja, also in the central province of Toledo.

After scaring more villagers, the bull made its way into a field, where it was shot dead by a police officer.

The bull, which had been unloaded from a cattle lorry near the barrier that gave way, surprised its herders by heading off towards the onlookers.

Julián Torrejón, the mayor of Pantoja, said barriers for the bull-run route had passed a safety check carried out minutes before the start of Tuesday's event.

But questions have been raised about how people were allowed to stand close to a barrier that proved too weak to withstand the force of the bull.

"The people of Pantoja are devastated," said Mr Torrejón. "We are very sorry and we offer our deepest condolences to the family."

In a statement, Pantoja council said that it had cancelled Tuesday's festival and declared a day of mourning.

Bull-related deaths at Spanish festivals usually involve daredevils trying to dodge the animals as they run through the streets, not onlookers behind safety barriers.

According to the EFE news agency, Spain's judicial police are investigating the circumstances of Tuesday's fatal incident.