21 May 2023 , 00:01
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A vigil will be held for two dogs killed by the Metropolitan Police in Poplar earlier this month, after more than one million people signed a petition demanding action.
Campaigners have united on the Change.org appeal, arguing the killing of Louie Turnbull's pets was "barbaric".
Sadie Geoghegan-Dann, who started the petition, wrote online: "In a statement, the Met Police claim the 'aggressive behaviour of two dogs was of considerable concern and posed a significant threat to them'.
"And yet, concrete video evidence all over social media shows these dogs to be under control and on leads with their owner."
It comes as the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating what led to the slaying of the dogs and the Tasering of a man by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in Poplar, east London, on May 7.
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The pair of Staffordshire bull terriers were gunned down in east London on May 7Footage of the incident was posted on social media and showed officers pursuing a man holding the two dogs on a short lead along a canal in Limehouse, east London.
The situation then appeared to become heated, as the man was Tasered to the floor and the animals were shot dead.
A vigil is being held in Kent for the pair of slain Staffordshire bull terriers.
Organiser of the vigil Mandi told Kent Live that she had to watch the viral video a few times before she realised what was happening. She said: “Heartbroken is the word. When I saw the video, I saw it once and didn’t think much of it, I thought ‘oh dangerous dogs have been shot’.
"But then I saw people making a big uproar about it and watched it a few more times. It was just shocking."
The event in Hythe will be held at Red Lion Square on Sunday, June 4 at 1pm. A local musician is set to perform.
An investigation has been opened into the incident (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)Mandi said she thought the killing of the dogs was "completely unjustified" and that she is now worried about the safety of her own pets.
She said: “I’ve got two Rottweilers and, even before any of this, you'd walk down the street and people automatically give you a wide berth. I am fearful, I am scared of taking my dogs out.
“They are big dogs. They wouldn't hurt anybody but, in the eyes of the law, they seem to be judging every dog the same now.”
Amanda Rowe, an IOPC regional director, said: “We understand the public concern regarding this incident and it is appropriate that it should be independently investigated.
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“We will examine whether the actions of the officers involved were reasonable and proportionate in all of the circumstances and in line with relevant policy and procedure.”