A gang of anti-bullfight activists have vandalised the tomb of Julio Robles in Ahigal de los Aceiteros cemetery.

Robles, who lived out his life in a wheelchair as a result of injuried sustained in Beziers bullring (France) on August 13th, 1991, died in Ahigal de los Aceiteros (Salamanca) on January 14th, 2001.

Mayor Francisco Manzano said that, some time during the early hours of Friday morning, the tomb had been smashed and daubed in red paint, a bronze bust of the matador had been stolen, and the message 'murdering bullfighters' had been scrawled on the back.

The vandals have since claimed responsibility for the attack in a message sent to the offices of the 'Tribuna de Salamanca' daily newspaper yesterday, which alleges that, "During his life, Julio Robles was responsible for the massacre of hundreds of brave bulls, which he humiliated, tortured and murdered without remorse. Despite his shameful past, he is honoured with a statue at the gates of Salamanca bullring. Our intention was to dig up his body, but this proved impossible. Instead, we took a 20kg bronze bust of the bull murderer, which we shall return, without problems, when the bull massacres stop."