Thirteen injured in first bull run of Pamplona's San Fermin festival

Thirteen people sustained injuries during the opening bull run of Pamplona's San Fermin festival, marking a dangerous start to the week-long celebration. The traditional event, which began Monday and runs until next Tuesday, saw six fighting bulls released into the streets of the old city center. Daredevils run alongside the charging bulls for 875 meters, often breaking rules by touching the animals. Bull runs have been a part of the festival since 1911, with their origins tracing back to the 16th century. The event gained international fame through Ernest Hemingway's novel "The Sun Also Rises," which celebrates its centenary this year. Despite ongoing protests from animal rights activists, the festival continues, having claimed 16 lives since 1924, with the last fatality occurring in 2009. This year's initial runs resulted in five injuries on Tuesday, three on Wednesday, fifteen serious injuries on Thursday, and nine on Friday, bringing the total to thirteen in the first run alone.