XL Bully attacks Hornchurch – latest news: Woman bitten to death by her two dogs in London apartment

Neighbors described paramedics resuscitating the victim in their front yard.

One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I came out of the house and looked to see what had happened. We hadn’t heard anything, but we saw a helicopter overhead and lots of police.

“I was standing on the road and saw a paramedic performing CPR. This poor woman. It is shocking.”

A man will be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday after his dog XL Bully attacked an 11-year-old girl and two men.

Farhat Ajaz, 61, pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing a dog causing injury and becoming dangerously out of control following an incident in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, on September 9 last year.

The attack by the dog named Tyson resulted in the girl’s shoulder and arm injuries.

And earlier this month, a 39-year-old arrested in connection with the death of his grandmother Esther Martin, who was killed by XL Bully dogs in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, had his bail extended while inquiries continue.

Essex Police will not say whether the dogs were registered.

Neighbors spoke to reporters at the scene this morning.

A woman walking her dogs told LBC: “I don’t understand where these dogs come from, I’ve never seen them. I walk my dogs every day but I’ve never seen these dogs. I noticed these dogs because I was avoiding them.”

“It’s terrible… so close to home. It’s a terrible, terrible thing that can happen.

Another told the outlet that she saw the dogs in the yard and that they would bark late into the night.

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We sent resources to the scene, including emergency services, an incident commander and a London Ambulance helicopter.

“We treated one person but unfortunately, despite our efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Images from the crime scene this morning show the woman’s semi-detached house taped off with a blue forensic tent on the porch.

Meanwhile, people are paying their respects in local social media groups.

One person wrote: “Thinking about the family and how they must be in such a state of shock.”

Cornwall Close is located in Havering, in Hornchurch. It lies next to the A127 on the edge of the district.

The fatal dog attack happened in Cornwall Close, near Essex Gardens, where residents brought cups of tea and coffee to police officers who attended after Monday’s attack

One told the Mirror: “The dogs weren’t killed, they took them away.

“Transporters have been going back and forth non-stop since lunchtime and we saw the helicopter come past and you assume the worst. Campion (a nearby school and sixth form college) isn’t far from here, so there’s a fear that there might be kids there or something. You never think a dog would do that. It’s terrible.”

Rishi Sunak called for a ban on XL Bullys after a series of high-profile attacks.

The breed joined four other breeds banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act. They are American Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos and Fila Brasileiros.

Critics say the legislation should target owners rather than breed.

Conservative MP Sir Christopher Chope said the XL Bullys ban was one of the government’s worst legislative proposals, describing it as a knee-jerk reaction to newspaper headlines.

To keep an XL Bully dog ​​after February 1, owners had to register them with Defra.

When registering the dogs, owners must follow certain rules, including the requirement to microchip them, keep them on a leash in public and wear a muzzle. To ensure that these dogs cannot continue to breed, they must also be neutered.

In February, Environment Minister Steve Barclay said: “The XL Bully ban is now in effect, meaning it is illegal to own one of these dogs unless it has been registered.

“We have kept our promise to introduce this important measure to protect public safety and we expect all XL Bully owners to comply with the strict requirements.”

There were 16 dog bite deaths recorded in 2023, more than double the six deaths in 2022. Between 1991 and 2021, the number never rose above five, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The total number of dog attacks has also risen sharply. Numbers received from The Independent of police forces in England and Wales show there has been an increase of almost 60 per cent in the last five years.