French police on Monday said they had arrested a man on suspicion of mutilating horses, after a string of attacks that have shocked the country. The man was detained after a computer-generated image of one of two people suspected of inflicting cuts on horses in the Yonne department of central France was circulated, said a police source who asked not to be named. French authorities have been at a loss to explain the attacks, which according to the gendarmerie have seen the ears cut off some 20 horses nationwide, as well as genital mutilations and other cuts. Security forces believe several people are involved with speculation suggesting they could be motivated by a satanic rite or an internet cult. The Yonne authorities were helped in constructing the suspect's likeness by the testimony of stable manager Nicolas Demajean, whose premises were attacked in August. Demajean was injured after seeking to confront the two attackers, who cut two ponies with knives and mutilated another horse, he said. The suspect was arrested in the Haut-Rhin department of eastern France. French police at the weekend were hunting for two suspects in the Cote-d'Or region of eastern France after a stable owner told police of an intrusion on his premises and that one horse had been wounded. A 40-strong team of gendarmes backed up by police dogs and a helicopter were sent to the scene but so far have not found the culprits. sm-sjw/jh/jxb