XL Bully attack – latest: Woman killed by two dogs in Hornchurch named as neighbours feared for their children
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Rishi Sunak explains why the XL Bully dog was added to the banned breeds under the Dangerous Dogs Act earlier this year
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A woman killed by her XL Bully dogs at her house in east london has been named locally as Angeline Mahal.
Ms Mahal, believed to be in her 50s, was attacked by her two dogs at the semi-detached home in Cornwall Close in Hornchurch just after 1pm on Monday.
Armed police attended the scene and told neighbours in the cul-de-sac to stay indoors before the area was evacuated shortly after 4pm.
Despite London Ambulance Service sending paramedics and a helicopter, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Tuesday afternoon, Ms Mahal was named locally, as His Majesty’s Coroners East London confirmed they had been made aware of her death.
Both dogs were registered as exempt from the government’s ban on XL Bully dogs, which came in on 1 February.
Under the agreement for having a dog exempt, owners must have had the animal neutered, have it microchipped and keep it muzzled and on a lead in public.
But one neighbour, Sejal Solanki, said she had warned her child about going near the dogs.
She said: “I said ‘Don’t ever touch those dogs. They’re dangerous’.”
Have you been affected by this? Email alexander.ross@independent.co.uk
Key Points
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‘I was scared stiff’
More people living and working close to Monday’s dog fatal attack have given their reaction to the tragic death of Angeline Mahal this afternoon.
The street was evacuated hours after armed police were called to the scene.
Speaking to The Mirror, one elderly neighbour, who has lived on the street for 40 years, said: “I was scared stiff, there were four or five armed officers who all came round and we were evacuated from our houses.
“There were cars and ambulances and a dozen officers. I said to the police, ‘Is it safe?’, because we were worried there might be a gunman or someone with a sword, it was terrifying.
“We had no idea it was a dog attack.”
Alex Ross21 May 2024 22:00
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A summary of events after beautician killed by pet dogs
Angeline Mahal, believed to be in her fifties, was attacked by her two dogs at the semi-detached home in Cornwall Close in Hornchurch just after 1pm on Monday.Her two sons found her in the floor of her hallway before they alerted emergency services and attempted CPR, it is feared she may have been dead for hours.The Metropolitan Police confirmed Mahal had been pronounced dead at the scene. Officers later seized the two dogs without harming them.
Barney Davis21 May 2024 21:51
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Two sons found mother dead after attack
Another neighbour told The Evening Standard: “Two of her boys returned home and she had been attacked.
“It was too late for her… imagine coming home to that. It’s a tragedy, they were too late.
“She was a really nice lady and it’s tragic. I called her Ange – she was a gentle person who was quiet and humble. We are all reeling from this. It’s just so sad.”
Barney Davis21 May 2024 21:44
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‘It’s knocked us all for six’ – saddened councillor
Councillor David Godwin, of the Havering Residents Association, told The Independent he was keen to allow the police to do their work during the live investigation.
But he added: “We are saddened this had happened in our community, it’s knocked us all for six.
“We fell very sorry for the family. It’s something you never think will happen in your area.”
Alex Ross21 May 2024 21:01
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‘It was strange, because there were no noises’
While some based nearby have reported hearing barking during the incident, others heard nothing.
One man working on a house a few doors away from the victim’s told The Sun the first he knew about it was armed officers turning up.
He said: “The armed response officers were here immediately. We thought it was a stabbing or a shooting or something.
“We saw someone get pulled out of the house on a bed getting CPR. I couldn’t see her because there was too many people around her.
“It was strange, because there were no noises… That’s the weird bit about it.”
Alex Ross21 May 2024 20:15
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Dogs ‘kept in cages’
Angeline Mahal’s dogs were registered as exempt from the ban on XL Bully dogs, which came into force on 1 February.
Tonight, a close family member of Angeline, known to friends as Angel, said they asked her to get rid fo the dogs, but the bond between them was too strong.
He told The Sun: “She had two dogs from when they were puppies. They were registered. It was more likely to have been one of them attacked her.
“We are just shocked. You hear about these attacks in a paper but you never expect this to happen to your own family.”
He added: “She’s had many dogs over the years. It’s hard to pay attention to them. The dogs took up a lot of her time, they took away her freedom.
“She kept them in cages in one of the rooms. The whole family is distraught from this, her sons are devastated. Angeline was loved by everyone.”
Alex Ross21 May 2024 19:15
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Relatives say they begged Angeline Mahal to get rid of the dogs
A relative feared Angeline – known as Angel to friends – had been dead for many hours before she was discovered.
He told The Sun: “We miss her, she was sincere and loved by everyone.
“We asked her to get rid of the dogs. The bond with owners and their dogs is too strong.”
He said: “She had two dogs from when they were puppies. They were registered. It was more likely to have been one of them attacked her.
“We are just shocked. You hear about these attacks in a paper but you never expect this to happen to your own family.”
He added: “There’s something I want to make clear and it’s that anyone who has XL Bully-type dog needs to do the right thing if they spot their pets becoming aggressive and give them up.
“I know it’s hard because people have such an attachment – but we wouldn’t want any other family to go through this. We miss Angeline. She was a sincere person with such a kind heart.”
Angeline Mahal was attacked by a dog at her home in Cornwall Close (Supplied)
Barney Davis21 May 2024 18:56
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Fatal XL Bully attacks over past year
20 May, 2024 – Angeline Mahal kileld by her two XL Bully dogs at her home in Hornchurch
3 February, 2024 – Grandmother Esther Martin, killed while looking after her grandson in Essex.
October, 2023 – Ian Langley suffered fatal neck injuries in dog attack in Sunderland
Ian Price died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham after being attacked by an XL Bully ((Staffordshire Police/PA))
September, 2023 – Ian Price killed while protecing his mother in Stonnall in Staffordshire
May, 2023 – Jonathan Hogg attacked by dog in Leigh in Greater Manchester
Alex Ross21 May 2024 18:14
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Pictures from the scene
Police have remained at the house after the death of Angeline Mahal yesterday. Here are some pictures from the scene:
A blue forensic tent outside the entrance to the home (William Warnes/PA Wire)A black car parked on the driveway as a police officer guards the scene (William Warnes/PA Wire)Residents were evacuated from Cornwall Close following the attack (William Warnes/PA Wire)
Alex Ross21 May 2024 17:15
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Relative warns over XL Bully dog owners
The relative of Angeline Mahal has spoken more to reporters about the mother who was killed by her two registered XL Bully dogs.
She issued a direct warning to any other owner of the breed.
She said: “There’s something I want to make clear and it’s that anyone who has an XL Bully-type dog needs to do the right thing if they spot their pets becoming aggressive and give them up.
“I know it’s hard because people have such an attachment – but we wouldn’t want any other family to go through this. We miss Angeline. She was a sincere person with such a kind heart.”
Alex Ross21 May 2024 16:14
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/xl-bully-attack-dogs-hornchurch-london-news-b2548500.html
