Two dogs shot dead by armed police had not just attacked woman, witness says
A witness has denied Metropolitan Police's claims two dogs officers shot dead had attacked a woman moments earlier.
The man, who asked to be referred to as Zee K, said the woman had in fact got caught up in the dogs' leads and was not seriously injured.
But police were called to the scene in Limehouse Cut in Tower Hamlets, east London, on Sunday afternoon and the "out-of-control" pets were blasted in front of their owner and passers by.
The dog's owner, 46-year-old Louie Turnbull, was also tasered and has since been charged with being the person/owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control, and being in possession/custody of a dog whilst disqualified from owning or keeping a dog.
Police are pictured with the dogs and their owner in London (@mariaalcoptia/Twitter)
The dogs were shot dead in front of passers by and residents in Limehouse Cut flats (@mariaalcoptia/Twitter)Speaking last night, Zee, a 33-year-old barber, said: "I can tell you for a fact that the dog didn’t attack the woman, it attacked another dog. A little brown dog.
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"Me and another woman came out when we heard what was going on and took the dog away.
"I was scared going to get it, but they didn’t attack me or the woman."
No one needed treatment in hospital after the police dealt with both incidents at around 5pm.
Zee added: "I don’t think the woman who owned the dog got attacked by the dogs, but she did get tangled in the lead and fell over.
“Their owner is homeless I believe and he didn’t do anything to help, he was too high or something to do anything."
After rescuing the dog Zee, who did not want to give his full name, went back to work at his barbers, Zee Cutz.
It is alleged the dogs had attacked a woman on Commercial Road, east London (SWNS)Despite witnessing the dog attack, he was deeply saddened by the news of the dogs’ deaths.
He said: “I heard the shots and when I found out I was so sad about it. I couldn’t sleep, I was so sad.
“I see those dogs everyday - they are always here with the owner.
“About 20 minutes before I was petting them. They never have seemed aggressive before.”
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Fareed Rashid, who owns the shop All Seasons Food and Wine along Commercial Road, also saw the incident.
He often sees the two dogs walking along the pavement and their owner regularly would sit outside the shop with them.
On Sunday before the attack, the 62-year-old from Leytonstone, east London, told the dog's owner to move away from the shop as his animals had been barking at customers as they came and left the shop.
Police are pictured with the dogs and their owner in London (@mariaalcoptia/Twitter)Mr Rashid said: “The fellow was sitting on the side with his dogs and they were scaring the customers so I told him to move but he didn’t move.
“He just stayed there not doing anything and they were loose. They attacked the woman as she walked past - I think biting her in the leg.
“When police came one of the dogs jumped up at one of the officers. They chased the dogs around the corner onto St Anne’s Street.”
From there the canines ended up along the canal and were shot by officers at the scene.
One resident who lives in an apartment overlooking the canal saw police marksmen shoot the animals and is still shocked by what he witnessed.
Police were called to the busy Commercial Road at around 5pm on Sunday (SWNS)The resident, who wished not to be named, said: “It was a horrible thing to watch, I can’t believe it still.
“Originally there were about eight policemen who were on the scene so it must have been a serious report because that’s a lot of officers for something minor.
“The man had the dogs on the lead but let go of one and then that one ran at the police.
“I don’t know if it was being aggressive or not, I could just tell that it was moving towards the police and then they shot it. I didn’t even know they could carry shotguns.”
He added: “Then what was so sad was the other one looked like it was maybe running away but because it was towards another officer they shot it too.”
The onlooker heard a woman had been attacked from the police on the ground.
He said: “I only knew that someone had been attacked because when a couple shouted down to the police they shouted back that the dogs had attacked someone.”
Another resident, who also wanted to remain anonymous, saw one of the dogs dead in the street.
She said: “I just heard the bang and obviously was shaken - you never know what to expect.
“I just saw the dog lying there and the police. I had to come away from the window as I couldn’t look any more. It was awful.”
Paramedics were not called to the scene as the woman allegedly attacked did not need an ambulance and was not taken to hospital, police confirmed.
Flowers were left after the scene after the alleged attack and the dogs' deaths (SWNS)A spokesman for the Met Police said: “We are aware of the video being shared on social media showing part of an incident in Limehouse where two dogs were destroyed by police officers responding to a report of a woman being attacked.
“Police were called just after 5pm on Sunday, May 7, to a woman being attacked by a dog in Commercial Road, E14.
“Officers attended the location where the aggressive behaviour of two dogs was of considerable concern and posed a significant threat to them.
“A man was arrested in connection with the incident for having a dog dangerously out of control and assault offences.
“A taser was discharged by police. No person was taken to hospital.
"Both dogs were destroyed by police at the scene. This is never an easy decision for any officer to take, but police have a duty to act where necessary before any further injury is caused.
"The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards have conducted a thorough review of the incident, including all of the available body-worn footage, and are satisfied that there are no concerns around officer conduct.”
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