Neighbours’ horror as woman mauled to death by 2 XL Bullies & riot cops armed with shields storm home to capture beasts
NEIGHBOURS have told of their horror after a woman was mauled to death at home by her two XL Bully dogs.
Cops with riot shields were rushed to Hornchurch, East London yesterday and stormed the property after getting frantic calls about a “critical incident”.
There they tragically found a woman in her 50s fighting for her life after the horror attack.
She could not be saved and the two XL Bully dogs, which have been at the centre of 13 fatal attacks in less than three years, were seized by officers.
Neighbours have now told of their horror after hearing about the mauling, labelling it “awful”.
One, who did not wish to be named, told the Mirror: “The dogs weren’t killed, they’ve taken them away.
“There’s been vans back and forth non-stop since lunchtime and we saw the helicopter come over and you assume the worst.
“Campion [a nearby school and sixth form college] isn’t far from here so you panic it’s kids or something.
“You never think a dog’s going to do that. It’s awful.”
Police remained at the scene this morning and a blue tent still sat in the home’s front garden.
A sticker on the house window read: “Nevermind the dog, beware of the kids.”
Since February 1 it has been illegal to own an XL Bully in England and Wales without a certificate has been a criminal offence.
Met Police revealed last night that the two hounds at the centre of the mauling were registered under the Government’s new scheme.
Armed cops were rushed to a family home on Cornwall Close, a quiet cul-de-sac, at around 1pm on Monday after getting calls about the horror.
When they arrived the beasts had been locked into a room in the house.
The breed is said to be “disproportionately involved” in serious and fatal dog attacks.
The last person reportedly killed by one of the beasts was Esther Martin, 68.
The nan was looking after her grandson in Jaywick, Essex, when dogs Bear and Beauty attacked her on February 3.
Met Police said last night: “Police were called to Cornwall Close around 1.12pm on Monday, May 20 to reports of a woman attacked by a dog.
We saw the helicopter come over and you assume the worst.
Neighbour
“Due to the threat posed, armed officers attended. After assessing the situation, officers were able to safely seize two dogs.
“These were registered XL Bully dogs and prior to officers’ arrival had been contained inside a room in the house.
“They did not leave the house at any time during the incident.
“The family of the woman, who was the owner of the dogs, are being supported by officers.”
London Ambulance Service added: “We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews, an incident response officer and London’s air ambulance.
Fatal XL Bully attacks
Woman in her 50s mauled to death at home by two XL Bully dogs in Hornchurch, East London on May 21, 2014.
Esther Martin, 68, was looking after her grandson in Jaywick, Essex, when dogs Bear and Beauty attacked her on February 3, 2024.
Ian “Scouse” Langley, 54, was protecting his puppy when the animal pounced on him outside a home in Sunderland in October 2023.
Ian Price, 52, was viciously savaged in September 2023 by the beasts as he tried to protect his elderly mum from them after they escaped.
Jonathan Hogg, 37, was killed in May 2023 entered the dog’s pen when it went for him, leaving bite wounds on his arm, leg and head.
Natasha Johnston, 28, was mauled to death while walking a pack of dogs in January 2023 was believed to have been killed by her own pet – an American Bully XL.
Shirley Patrick, 83, died 17 days after being mauled in a “hellish”, violent dog attack in December 2022.
Ian Symes, 34, who was known to friends as “Wiggy”, died at a recreation ground in Fareham, Hampshire, after the savage attack in August 2022.
Joanne Robinson, 43, was fatally mauled by pet Rocco at her home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire in July 2022.
Keven Jones, 62, went into cardiac arrest after being bitten by Cookie-Doe at Chanel Fong’s home in Wrexham, North Wales in May 2022.
Bella-Rae Birch, one, was mauled to death in March 2022 at her home by the American Bully XL.
Jack Lis, 10, was killed by a hulking XL Bully dog named Beast in November 2021 as he played at friend’s home in Caerphilly.
“We treated a person but sadly, despite our efforts, they were pronounced dead at the scene.”
Police said no arrests have been made.
The breed was deemed illegal after 11 people were killed by the hounds in the last three years, and many others injured in horror maulings.
But as of Feburary 1 all beasts must be registered and they must have a muzzle on if they’re out in public.
Owners and their dogs now face strict punishments without a certificate.
Dangerous Dogs Act explained
After eleven horrific attacks in 1991, Home Secretary Kenneth Baker promised “to rid the country of the menace of these fighting dogs” by introducing the Dangerous Dogs Act.
The law is often considered controversial as it focuses on a dog’s breed or looks instead of an individual dog’s behaviour, and fails to stem the rise of dog attacks.
According to the RSPCA, over a third of the people killed by dogs since the act was brought in were attacked by legal breeds.