Man arrested after six attacked by dogs ‘biting people at random’
Police have arrested a man after six people were bitten by two dogs “on the loose” near a primary school in Birmingham.
Barford Primary School in Winson Green was put into lockdown for an hour on Tuesday afternoon after the dogs began attacking people, according to the BBC.
An elderly man was taken to hospital with bite injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening, while five other people arrived at hospital with bite injuries which are also not believed to be life-threatening.
A child is believed to be among the injured, according to the Birmingham Mail.
One witness told the site that “two large dogs” were “attacking at random” on Willow Gardens, close to the school.
West Midlands Police confirmed that a 28-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of possessing a dog which was dangerously out of control.
Both dogs were seized by officers and taken to secure kennels.
The force said in a statement: “We have arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of possessing a dog which was dangerously out of control after a number of people received injuries after being attacked by two dogs…
“An elderly man was taken to hospital with bite injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening.
“Five other people have been presented at hospital with bite injuries which are also not believed to be life-threatening.
“We have seized two dogs and both have been taken to secure kennels.”
The incident comes after figures released last month showed there has been a 34% rise in dog attacks recorded by police in England and Wales.
According to the BBC, there were nearly 22,000 incident of out of control dogs causing injury in 2022 – up from the 16,000 recorded in 2018.
Police said there were more reports of dangerous dogs as a result of specific work by officers, with forces across the UK focusing on attacks.
Anyone with information is asked to contact West Midlands Police through Live Chat on the force website or by calling 101 quoting log number 2743 of 18 April.
Yahoo News UK has contacted West Midlands Police for an update.
