Horror as Pope's 'doves of peace' attacked at St Peter's square

These pictures show how two white 'peace' doves that were released by children standing with Pope Francis at the Vatican were attacked by a seagull and a crow.

Tens of thousands of tourists watched in St Peter's Square as the children released the birds from an open window of the Apostolic Palace. The act was made as a gesture of peace as part of the Vatican's annual 'Caravan of Peace' event.

But the joy soon turned to horror as , a seagull and a large black crow immediately swooped down on the doves, reports the Press Association.

One dove lost some feathers as it broke free from the gull. But the crow pecked repeatedly at the other dove. It was not clear what happened to the doves as they flew off.

According to the Independent, the same thing happened last year at the same event. In 2013, a single gull attacked the released doves, which then turned around and flew back at the palace.

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