Man mauled to death by American XL Bully dog in UK

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - A man died after being fatally injured by an XL Bully dog in UK’s Sunderland city, police said on Wednesday.

A murder investigation has been launched after the 54-year-old man was fatally injured in Shiney Row village, North East England, Northumbria police said in a statement.

Despite the efforts, the man succumbed to his injuries, noted the police.

It added that the dog, which is set to be banned in the country, was killed at the scene to ensure the safety of the public.

A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder following the victim's death, the statement said.

Authorities also seized a second dog, believed to be an XL Bully breed, as a precaution.

Northumbria Police Detective Chief Inspector Angela Hudson asked people not to speculate about the incident online while inquiries are ongoing.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced in early September that the American XL Bully dog will be banned in the country by the end of the year after recent dangerous attacks.

The plan is to ban the breed under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act which prohibits or restricts certain types of dogs and codifies the criminal offense of allowing a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control.

So far, four types of dogs – Pitbull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro – are banned under the act.

On Sept. 23, hundreds of people in London took part in a demonstration to criticize the recently announced plans to ban the American XL Bully dog.