WARNING: Images might be disturbing to some
Two Americans and a Spaniard were gored Friday during the first running of the bulls of this year's San Fermin Festival, medical officials in the northern Spanish city of Pamplona said.
The event has strongly been criticized by animal rights activists, who say bulls usually die in a slow and painful way.
Friday was the first of eight morning bull runs, in which daredevils test their speed and bravery by racing with fighting bulls along a 930-yard street course to the bullring.
The bulls then face matadors and almost certain death in afternoon bullfights.
A 46-year-old Spanish man was undergoing surgery for serious injuries to his head and leg after he was gored and then tossed by a bull.
Hospital officials said that two men from the United States had been gored as well during the run but their injuries were not considered serious.
More runners were treated on the spot for bruises, a red cross spokesman said, as two of the animals separated from the other four in the pack on their way to Pamplona's bullring.
