XL Bully dog confirmed as culprit behind savage mauling of 12-year-old schoolgirl
The "dangerously out of control" XL Bully mauled a 12-year-old schoolgirl, police said (file photo)
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A "dangerously out of control" dog which left a 12-year-old schoolgirl with life-changing injuries has been confirmed to have been an XL Bully by police.
Officers had descended on an address in Brynmawr, Blaenau Gwent, in southeast Wales yesterday evening after the girl was mauled - with police labelling the incident "distressing".
And now, Gwent Police have confirmed that the dog involved - which has since been seized and "humanely destroyed" by vets - was an XL Bully.
A 37-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, both from the Brynmawr area, were arrested on suspicion of owning or possessing a dog bred for fighting and owning or possessing a dog dangerously out of control.
Police have reassured residents there is "no further risk to the public" (file photo)
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The pair remain in police custody.
Earlier today, Gwent Police's Superintendent John Davies said: "This was a distressing incident for those involved.
"I would like to reassure the local community there is no further risk to the public.
"It is possible that you may see ongoing police activity in Nantyglo as part of this work.
"You may have also seen an increased presence earlier this evening while officers were attending the incident.
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Two people were arrested on suspicion of owning or possessing a dog bred for fighting (file photo)
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"If you have concerns or information, please stop and talk with us."
Since February 1, it has been an offence to sell, abandon, give away, breed, or walk an unleashed and unmuzzled XL Bully dog in England and Wales - with Scotland imposing the same legislation on February 23.
Latest figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), more than 55,000 XL Bully dogs are thought to still be on Britain’s streets despite the ban.
According to the banned breeds register, at least 38,424 dogs were granted the £92 exemption to avoid being put down.
Gwent Police's Superintendent John Davies called the incident "distressing"
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The breed's attacks have made headlines - over the summer, an XL Bully dog owner was tragically killed by her own pet while celebrating her birthday.
While elsewhere, a five-year-old boy was left with "half his scalp ripped off" after a horrific attack by an XL Bully-type dog.
And in Norfolk, one woman was left with hundreds of injuries after her XL Bully dog "played tug of war" with her breast implants in a vicious attack.