SATANISTS are thought to be behind the killing of 30 sheep found at a remote beauty spot. The animals were ritually slaughtered over a week — and some had their eyeballs removed.
Necks were also broken, some of the sheep were sexually mutilated and tongues were torn out.
Most were laid out ritualistically in a circle when they were found at spots across Dartmoor, Devon — where six slaughtered sheep were found in an identical state a year ago.
The thirty animals were owned by six farmers. Rigor mortis had set in and experts believe the sheep had been killed elsewhere and moved. *
A local official said: “The sheep die in agony — and this ritual is affecting farmers’ livelihoods and well-being.”
In the previous attack six sheep owned by one farmer were slaughtered and their eyeballs removed before four were laid in a pagan symbol like something from horror film The Blair Witch Project.
Some farmers are now considering setting up a vigilante group to combat the threat. They are also set to meet police.
Cherry Seage, secretary of Dartmoor Commoners’ Council, said the killings were becoming increasingly vicious.
Police said: “Someone out there must know who is doing this and what is behind this.”