A splinter group of disaffected winemakers in the south of France is thought to be responsible for a horrifying attack on a Spanish wine tanker on Wednesday night.
The 28,000l tanker was parked outside a large wine warehouse near Montpellier when several shots were fired directly into its petrol tank. The driver was in the cab at the time.
The attackers then tried to set fire to the vehicle. It is not known exactly what method was used to start the blaze, which was fought by the driver – who was unhurt – and local firemen.
The following afternoon, 50 policemen were called out to control a crowd of demonstrators which eventually took control of the tanker.
According to the police, the demonstrators opened the tanker's valves, draining the contents onto the tarmac. The letters CRAV (which stands for the Regional Committee for Viticultural Action) were found daubed on the trailer's side.
The CRAV, a self-styled direct action protest group, is already thought to be responsible for the bombing of a winery and other incidents involving large wineries and negociants in the Hérault region of the south of France.
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