The Metropolitan Police has defended its officers after a suspect was tasered and two dogs were shot in front of screaming witnesses in London.
Police were called shortly after 5pm on Sunday (May 7) after a woman was reportedly attacked by a dog in Commercial Road, Tower Hamlets, East London. The aggressive behaviour of the dogs were said to be of “considerable concern” and posed a “significant threat” to the officers who attended the scene, a Met Police statement said.
Harrowing footage on social media shows a number of officers chasing a man and the dogs along a canal in Limehouse, East London. The situation then appears to become heated, as the man appears to be tasered while the animals are shot dead.
A person in the footage can be heard saying: “Why did you shoot the dog?” and later, adding: “I think they’ve killed it, I think they’ve killed it.”
Commenting on the incident, police said officers “have a duty to act where necessary before any further injury is caused.”
A spokesperson said: “A man was arrested in connection with the incident for having a dog dangerously out of control and assault offences. He has been taken into police custody and a Taser was discharged by police.”
The circumstances of the incident will be reviewed by Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, the spokesperson added.
