Man killed in suspected XL bully attack as police launch murder investigation

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A man, 54, has died following a suspected XL bully attack. Another man, 44, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The incident occurred shortly before 7pm on Tuesday night (October 3) in Sunderland. Residents in Shiney Row said they saw paramedics working on the victim's throat. The injured man was rushed to hospital but sadly died later in the evening.

Northumbria Police believe the dog was an XL bully – the breed that PM Rishi Sunak previously announced would be banned by the end of this year. "While further assessment will be carried out, officers believe the dog to be an XL bully breed," the force said.

The 44-year-old was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He was then re-arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.

Northumbria Police confirmed the dog was shot at the scene to "ensure the safety of the public". The force said: "A second dog was also seized from the address as a precaution."

A police cordon remains in place today (Wednesday, October 4) and a number of officers are in the area as the investigation gets underway.

Detective Chief Inspector Angela Hudson, of Northumbria Police, said: "While our investigation is at an early stage, we do believe those involved were known to each other."

Last month Sunak announced the Government is hoping to ban XL bullies by the end of this year following a spate of attacks.

The PM described the breed as "a danger to our communities, particularly our children". He said: "It is clear this is not about a handful of badly trained dogs, it’s a pattern of behaviour and it cannot go on.

"While owners already have a responsibility to keep their dogs under control, I want to reassure people that we are urgently working on ways to stop these attacks and protect the public."

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• Breaking News
• XL Bully
• Dogs
• Dog attacks
• Police
• Crime
• Murder

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