Monday 16 March 2009 20:27 UTC

Animal rights activists released approximately 2,500 mink from a mink farm in the southern town of Stavenisse on Saturday night. However, said the Public Prosecutor's Office, nearly all the animals were recaptured shortly afterwards. Some were run down and killed on local roads.

The letters 'DBF' were found written in whitewash on one of the farm's fences. 'DBF' stands for 'Dieren Bevrijdingsfront' (Animal Liberation Front).

The release followed the news, on Saturday, that the Netherlands is now the international centre for radical animal rights activists.