A woman is fighting for life and a man injured after a dog attack in south-east London.
Police were called to reports of the animal mauling people inside a house on Bedwell Road, Belvedere just before 9am on Monday.
Scotland Yard said the female victim was taken to hospital by paramedics where she remains in critical condition.
There are no details of her age.
A man involved in the attack was also taken to a major trauma centre for treatment.
Officers said the dog - injured during the incident - was Tasered by police and died while being held in a separate room by officers.
The Metropolitan Police said: “Police were called at approximately 8.55am on Monday, November 20 to reports of a woman being attacked by a dog inside an address in Bedwell Road, Belvedere.
“Officers, London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance attended the scene – a woman, no further details – was taken to hospital for treatment; she remains there in a critical condition.
“A man also received minor injuries - he was taken to hospital for treatment.
“The dog received injuries during the attack and Taser was discharged by officers who secured it in a separate room. It has since died.
“Enquiries into the circumstances continue.”
The attack follows a spate across the UK, most concerningly those attributed to American XL bullies – although it is not known which breed was involved in Belvedere.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced in September that his administration would ban XL dogs by the end of the year by adding them to the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Last month, a 60-year-old woman in Brisley, Norfolk, was mauled by her own XL bully dog, which escaped and then had to be destroyed.
Ian Langley, 54, died after being assaulted by an XL in Sunderland while out walking his own puppy days earlier.
Not all animal charities are in favour of a ban. The RSPCA pulled out of a consultation about the definition of the dog type.
The animal welfare charity is part of the Dog Control Coalition, along with the likes of the Dogs Trust and the British Veterinary Association, which put out a statement following Mr Sunak’s announcement, arguing that a ban “will sadly not stop” the attacks.
Critics of Mr Sunak’s proposal have argued that the XL bully is not strictly a breed and would be difficult to define.
A London Ambulance Service spokesman added: “We sent a number of resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an incident response officer and members of our tactical response unit.
“We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.
“We treated two patients at the scene before taking them to a major trauma centre as a priority.”
