Liverpool (England), Apr 15 (AP) Three people were arrested in connection with a plan by animal rights activists to disrupt the prestigious Grand National horse race on Saturday.

All three were arrested on “suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance,” Merseyside Police said.

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A 25-year-old woman and a man were arrested while protesting outside Aintree racecourse near Liverpool, where the famous steeplechase takes place.

Earlier Saturday, a 33-year-old woman was arrested in the Greater Manchester area “in connection with potential coordinated disruption activities” at Aintree, police said. Their names were not disclosed.

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Animal Rising had called on protesters to gather outside the racecourse to demand an end to “animal cruelty for entertainment.” The group tweeted a video that it said shows one of its spokespeople being arrested at the protest.

Police said they have been working with race organisers ahead of and during the Grand National Festival, which started Thursday.

“We are aware of some people planning to protest at the event,” a police spokesperson said in a statement. “This has been factored into our plans. We respect the right to peaceful protest and expression of views, but criminal behaviour and disorder will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.”

Animal Rising activist Alex Lockwood this week told British radio station talkSPORT that they planned to disrupt the Grand National, arguing that standing outside and handing out fliers “never stopped anything”. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)