Armed police were forced to shoot a ‘dangerously out-of-control’ dog, which attacked and injured at least one woman in Greater Manchester on Friday night.
Officers were called at around 9pm to several reports of an XL Bully attacking members of the public in Gladstone Road in Eccles, Salford.
Despite efforts by police, they were unable to safely recapture the dog – which is now a banned breed in the UK.
Armed officers were called out to the residential road ‘due to the risk and harm it was causing’, before it was ‘destroyed at the scene as the last possible option.’
Following the incident, two men were arrested and detained after confronting officers.
Armed police were forced to shoot a ‘dangerously out-of-control’ dog, which attacked and injured at least one woman in Gladstone Road in Eccles, Salford, on Friday night
A woman who was injured by the animal is continuing to receive treatment for her injuries.
XL Bullys, which are the largest type of American bulldog, have been illegal to own in England and Wales since January 31 without an exemption, following a slew of fatal attacks across the UK.
Under the changes, dogs that were more than one year old after this date must be neutered by tomorrow (June 30), while younger dogs must receive the same treatment by December 31.
The powerful breed has distinctive features, including an average 20-inch height, broad shoulders, a bulky head and nine-stone weight.
XL Bullys, which are the largest type of American bulldog, have been illegal to own in England and Wales since January 31 without an exemption, following a slew of fatal attacks across the UK (stock image)
New laws on owning the breed were introduced following a wave of fatal attacks linked to XL Bully-type animals, including Ian Price who was killed in Stonnall, Staffordshire, in September 2023, and Ian Langley, who died in Sunderland in October 2023.
In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: ‘At around 9pm tonight on Gladstone Road in Eccles we were called to several reports of a dog dangerously out of control that was subsequently attacking the public and injured a woman in the process.
‘Initially, both local officers and the public were unable to regain control of the dog.
‘Specialised officers were deployed and tried to safely secure the XL Bully but were unsuccessful.
‘This meant unfortunately due to the risk and harm it was causing as a banned breed it was destroyed at the scene as the last possible option.
‘Two men were later arrested and detained after confronting officers. The woman victim is still receiving treatment for her injuries.
‘We understand the concern this incident will raise within the community but our officers have a duty to act in challenging situations on a regular basis with the aim of keeping everyone safe.’
