Dramatic images show Portuguese ‘Suicide Squad’ forcados flung into the air

  • Members of the Portuguese ‘Suicide Squad’ bullfighting group can be seen trying to grab the animal’s head
  • Forcados are men who perform traditional ‘face catch’ with no protection or weapons to defend themselves
  • Groups which perform in the shows are known as ‘Suicide Squad’ in California due to the death-defying stunts

Jaw-dropping photos show members of a Portuguese ‘Suicide Squad’ bullfighting group balancing on the animal’s head and being tossed around while taking on the raging animal without protection.

Wearing brightly coloured and intricately embroidered costumes, members of the Coruche forcados were flung around the Campo Pequeno bullring in Lisbon as they confronted the creature head-on. 

Forcados are men who perform the traditional ‘face catch’ in Portuguese bullfighting with no weapons to defend themselves.

This involves one of the men provoking the bull to charge then securing its head. His comrades then quickly surround the animal and wrestle it into submission.

The men who perform in the bullring shows are known as ‘Suicide Squad’ in California due to their death-defying  stunts.

Calls to ban bullfighting in Portugal renewed just days before the performance as the People Animals Nature political party announced a new parliamentary bill to shelve the sport.

One member of the bullfighting ‘forcados’ group, wearing a long green hat, provokes the bull to charge before using his whole body to secure its head

The Portuguese group from the central municipality of Coruche battle to bring the enraged bull to heel during the performance

The Portuguese group from the central municipality of Coruche battle to bring the enraged bull to heel during the performance

The men work together to try to subdue the bull and bring it to the ground. The creature lowers its head as the group pile in

The men work together to try to subdue the bull and bring it to the ground. The creature lowers its head as the group pile in

Two of the forcados grapple with the bull's head during the performance, attempting to wrestle it to the floor

Two of the forcados grapple with the bull’s head during the performance, attempting to wrestle it to the floor

One member of the group balances on the raging bull's back as his teammates try to take control of the animal from all angles

One member of the group balances on the raging bull’s back as his teammates try to take control of the animal from all angles

The group work together to wrestle the bull to the floor by the head and subdue it during the jaw-dropping performance

The group work together to wrestle the bull to the floor by the head and subdue it during the jaw-dropping performance

The group surround the furious bull during the performance, reaching out to grab its head and bring it to the floor

The group surround the furious bull during the performance, reaching out to grab its head and bring it to the floor

A member of the daring group lies injured in the arena, sprawled face-down and clasping his head. His comrades rush to help

A member of the daring group lies injured in the arena, sprawled face-down and clasping his head. His comrades rush to help

The raging bull, with decorated spears hanging from its back, lowers its head about to charge as one of the stuntmen runs for cover

The raging bull, with decorated spears hanging from its back, lowers its head about to charge as one of the stuntmen runs for cover

One of the members of the group has blood smeared across his face and body as he runs across the arena during the performance

One of the members of the group has blood smeared across his face and body as he runs across the arena during the performance

One daring bullfighter confronts the bull head-on without any protection, posing confidently inches from its lethal horns

One daring bullfighter confronts the bull head-on without any protection, posing confidently inches from its lethal horns

The group manage to bring the bull to the floor, piling in behind one another and using their combined strength to overpower the animal

The group manage to bring the bull to the floor, piling in behind one another and using their combined strength to overpower the animal

The team proudly pose up by the side of the ring wearing intricately tailored red costumes before the performance began

The team proudly pose up by the side of the ring wearing intricately tailored red costumes before the performance began

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