The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority has asked police for further documentation regarding the group of nine tourists who chased and killed a lamb this past weekend. The story has received considerable attention in Icelandic media sources in recent days. The purpose of the institution’s inquiry is to determine whether those responsible are liable to pay a fine of up to 1,000,000 ISK.
As previously reported, the suspects were apprehended by police near Breiðdalsvík village in East Iceland on Sunday evening. The animal’s carcass was found, shoved into a bag, in the trunk of one of the tourists’ vehicles. One of the men was fined 120,000 ISK for damaging private property.
Þóra J. Jónasdóttir, a veterinarian employed by the Food and Veterinary Authority, told Vísir today that the case is being taken very seriously and that police have been asked to provide the institution with all related documentation. The suspects could be facing further fines or even legal charges. “The legal framework allows for fines ranging from 10,000 to 1,000,000 ISK. It is a horrible case and according to Icelandic law, it is completely forbidden to slaughter animals without any anaesthesia,” Þóra emphasized.
