Met Police defends officers after man Tasered man and two dogs shot dead in east London

The Metropolitan Police has defended its armed officers who tasered a man and shot dead two dogs in front of screaming witnesses.

Footage of the incident filmed by onlookers and shared on social media shows officers in pursuit of a man holding two dogs on a short lead along a canal in Limehouse, east London, on Sunday afternoon.

The dogs had attacked a woman prior to the confrontation between the man and the officers, the Met said.

Shortly before the first dog is shot, both animals were barking in the direction of the officers.

One officer, who identifies himself as a dog handler, can be heard telling the man he wants to take the dogs and “check them for any injuries”.

Several members of the public whose balconies overlook the scene witnessed the incident.

One woman who witnessed and filmed the shooting told Mirror Online she saw blood seep out of the dogs.

The 25-year-old woman said: “It didn’t seem proportionate. It is beyond belief.

“It was so shocking. I didn’t realise it was a proper gun until the dogs were just lying completely out on the ground. There was blood coming out of them.

“I’ve never seen anything like that. You hear of these things happening in America but not here. Whatever had happened, it’s not an excuse for it to end like that.”

Commenting on the incident, police said officers “have a duty to act where necessary before any further injury is caused.”

In a statement, the force said: “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. He has been taken into police custody.

“A Taser was discharged by police.”

The statement continued: “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 will review the circumstances of the incident.”