Shopping centre XL Bully attack sees security guard bitten by rampaging dog

20 November 2023 , 09:12

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A security guard was bitten at Highcross Shopping Centre over the weekend (Image: hinckley times)

A security guard was hospitalised after being bitten by an XL Bully at a shopping centre in Leicester.

Police rushed to Highcross Shopping Centre at around 12.30pm on Saturday when the owner of the dog was denied entry into a shop by a security guard. At that point, the guard was bitten, suffering injuries to his arm and leg.

The victim was taken to the hospital and was later discharged. Officers said his injuries are not life-threatening. After the attack, the XL Bully owner left the scene but was later arrested in nearby Silver Street on suspicion of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place and causing injury.

The XL Bully's owner was arrested and then released on bail, said the police (Getty Images)

In a statement, Leicestershire Police said that the XL Bully was seized by officers and taken to a place of safety. The force also confirmed that the dog's owner had since been released on bail, pending further enquiries, reports Leicestershire Live.

Footage of the incident, including the seizing of the dog, has been widely shared online. Officers say they are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the biting of the security guard.

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Over the weekend, a young boy was rushed to hospital after being attacked by a dog thought to be an XL Bully. In a video shared on social media, which is thought to have been recorded on Saturday, a child is seen walking down a Blackburn street with an adult at around 12.20pm.

As they reach the end of the street near a local mosque, the boy moves towards the dog and it responds in a vicious attack, running toward the little one and clamping down on his coat. The adult is then seen frantically trying to loosen the dog's grip and free the boy from its powerful jaws. Two members of the public are also seen rushing to the pair's aid.

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One man can be seen trying to pry open the dog’s mouth to free the youngster while another then runs off to seek extra support. Lancashire Constabulary were alerted at 12.30pm to report a boy had been bitten by a dog and he was taken to hospital for treatment, reports Lancashire Live.

No details have been released about the nature or severity of his injuries. A 27-year-old man from Blackburn was arrested and has since been released on bail. In a statement, a force spokesperson told LancsLive: "The dog – which at this time we believe is an XL Bulldog type – has been seized.

"A short time later it was reported that threats had been made towards the family of the victim. A 27-year-old man from Blackburn was arrested on suspicion of assault – ABH and affray and has since been bailed pending further enquiries."

Lee Garrett