Dog that mauled man to death ‘attacked schoolboy days earlier’

This is the moment a loose dog savaged a schoolboy in east London – just days before a man was mauled to death by a ‘fighting dog’ on the same road.

The youngster was on his way home from school when he was ambushed by the animal on Shirley Road in Stratford on November 18.

Neighbours told Metro it is the same dog which killed 42-year-old Asif Mustaq there on Wednesday.

The footage shows the dog jump on the boy, aged around seven, swinging him around and biting him near the face. 

A neighbour said: ‘The boy was on his way from school just after 3pm when I saw the dog run for the boy and go for him he seemed to be with two women who were arguing.  

‘I think the lad was with his father. The dog proper goes for him, he was screaming in fear. He went for his face. He swings him around to the ground. 

‘When the dog attacked the boy it was horrifying, a woman ran out of a house where the dog lives. 

‘The dad tried to pull the dog off but his teeth were dug into him. The police came and were at the house where the dog owner lives. The boy didn’t seem to be too badly hurt.’

The Metropolitan Police said of the fatal attack this week: ‘Officers were called to Shirley Road in Stratford at 4.53am on Wednesday, following reports the man had been seriously wounded.

‘The victim was rushed to hospital, but medics were unable to save him, and he died after succumbing to his injuries. His family has been informed and a post-mortem will take place.’

Leanne McDonnell, 32, is charged with having custody of a fighting dog, owning a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death and failing in her duty as a person responsible for an animal to ensure its welfare. 

She is also charged with three counts of owning a dog dangerously out of control causing no injury, in relation to a separate incident on Monday, November 18.

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