Reindeer Police say herd was murdered

PORSANGER, Norway, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Norway's Reindeer Police say they believe a herd of 24 reindeer that was found dead in northern Norway "were killed intentionally."

The animals were found dead Friday in the mountains near Porsanger, The Local.no reported.

"The Reindeer Police have been at the scene and have found evidence that suggests that the animals were killed intentionally," Andreas Haugaasen of the Western Finnmark Police told the Finnmark Dagblad newspaper.

The 14-branch Reindeer Police was created in 1949 to protect reindeer herds belonging to the indigenous Sami people.