Police issue update after 'dangerous' XL Bully shot dead in street

Police have issued an update after an XL Bully dog was shot dead after attacking a woman in Salford.

Armed police descended on Gladstone Road in Eccles, off Liverpool Road, at around 9pm on Friday night (June 28) following reports that a dog was dangerously out of control and attacking a member of the public.

One woman was injured in the attack. Two men were also arrested after confronting officers.

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Video footage capturing the moment police officers shot the animal in the middle of the street has been shared widely on social media.

The dog - confirmed by police to have been a banned breed - was seen running around parked cars as officers pursued it. A taser was fired before six gunshots followed, as two officers chased the dog.

The M.E.N understands that the video does not show the full incident.

In an update today, Greater Manchester Police said it was continuing to investigate the incident. The force insisted that the dog had been killed "as a last resort" as "information available indicated a wider risk to the safety of the public".

GMP has referred its handling of the incident to the police watchdog - the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

A spokesperson for the force said: “We’re continuing to investigate an incident where our officers responded to reports of a dangerous dog in Eccles on Friday night which had attacked a member of the public.

“The information available indicated a wider risk to the safety of the public. Our focus will always be on bringing incidents to a safe resolution and the action taken was as a last resort.

“We fully understand the strong concerns which have been raised by members of the local community and beyond. It is important we are accountable for our actions and so we will be making a voluntary referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for their assessment.”

XL Bullys, as a banned breed, must now be muzzled in public and neutered by their owners.