Animal rights bomber Barry Horne is believed to be suffering from a blood clot on his leg and an abscess on his lung.

Barry Horne

Supporters in an animal rights group say he has undergone a blood transfusion at York District Hospital.

Horne, serving an 18-year sentence, is currently being treated after attempting a second hunger strike. The last one is said to have been in response to "personal reasons" as well as his campaign for a Royal Commission on animal experiments.

York District Hospital senior management say they can't comment on specific matters concerning Horne, other than to say he's comfortable.

But John Pounder, of Animals Betrayed Coalition, said he has information about Horne's condition and has E-mailed fellow animal rights campaigners around the world - telling them the current situation.

He said: "He's in a bad way and I believe he's had a thrombosis on his leg and an abscess on one of his lungs.

"He's had a blood transfusion and he's not in a good state physically.

"I think it's a build-up of everything he's been through. We are trying to get to people in there to see him, but there are two guards outside his room all the time.

"I have put the news out on the Internet."

Mr Pounder added that Horne's latest hunger strike was partly in protest against his conditions at Full Sutton Prison near Stamford Bridge.

He said: "He said he went long periods without visits. He went 17 days without food last month but his beliefs still come into it."

George Woods, deputy chief executive of York NHS Trust, said: "We can't comment on any of these things, except to give you the usual condition checks." He added that Horne has to be treated just like any other patient.

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