Police shoot pitbulls dead after pack goes on rampage in park

POLICE shot dead two pitbulltype dogs that ran amok in a park, biting a man and a woman.

The animals were among a pack of five said to have been dangerously out of control yesterday morning.

Two more were captured by officers but a fifth last night remained on the loose.

Police confirmed that a woman in her 40s was injured when she was bitten on the hand by one of the dogs, while a man suffered bites to both legs.

Another woman, who was in shock, also went to hospital. Last night the suspected owner, said to have been in the park, was being quizzed after he was arrested on suspicion of affray and letting the dogs run riot.

The number of dogs in the pack was unclear at first, with some witnesses suggesting up to eight were involved.

Children were said to have been among those forced to flee in terror. People hiding in a nearby property were heard in one recording gasping as police shot at the dogs, one of which was running towards officers.

Eyewitness Marya Mahmood, who works nearby in Bolton, said that the man didn’t have all of his dogs on leads.

She said: ‘We saw two dogs that were not on leads and about four or five dogs on a lead being held by a man. The ones off the leads were chasing the police officers and they had to shoot them otherwise they were going to attack them.

‘We heard them shoot two dogs. They were quite big dogs that looked like pitbulls.’

She added that the owner, a 38year- old man, cried as he was arrested at the scene, on suspicion of affray and allowing his dogs to be dangerously out of control in a public place.

Emergency services were called to the incident in Queen’s Park at 10.20am. Superintendent Chris Allsop, of Greater Manchester Police, said: ‘Highly-trained officers responded quickly to the scene and took control to avoid the situ- ation from escalating. The officers acted with our number one priority in mind; to protect people and prevent them from harm.

‘I’d like to thank to the public for their patience and full cooperation as we remained at the scene and carried out our inquiries.’

He added: ‘Our primary aim is to protect the public and we will always strive to do everything in our power to do so.

‘ While officers are working closely with dog wardens to search for the remaining dog, I’d like to remind people that their safety is extremely important.’

Police said the dog they were still searching for was large, short- haired and of a bulky, muscular build. A spokesman said: ‘It has not yet been located and officers are reminding members of the public to remain vigilant.’

The suspected owner of the dogs last night remained in police custody for questioning. Four breeds are banned from being bred, owned or sold in the United Kingdom under the Dangerous Dogs Act: the pitbull terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro.

‘Public must remain vigilant’