Witnesses have described the shocking moment police officers in the UK tasered a man and shot his two dogs dead in public.
In harrowing video circulated widely online, which was filmed from a distance by a witness, several Metropolitan Police officers can be seen following the man, who has both dogs held tightly on a lead, near a block of flats beside a canal in London.
As the dogs bark loudly, one officer can be heard saying: “We need to assess your dogs and assess you”.
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However, the situation in Limehouse quickly deteriorated into a much more heated confrontation, which resulted in both animals being shot dead.
Met Police have stated that prior to the incident the dogs had attacked a woman and had become aggressive.
Speaking to Mirror Online, a witness called MB, said they saw blood seep out of the dogs at the canalside.
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.
"Some of the other neighbours were shouting 'it's disgusting' and 'we're not in America'."
In the video, the man, whom MB believes may have been homeless, can be heard both swearing and pleading with officers.
He can be seen holding the dogs back prior to releasing them - at which point one dog is shot dead. The second dog is shot dead moments later.
"He was traumatised. He said 'you might as well kill me,' to the officers afterwards," MB added.
"There were a lot of officers. There must have been six surrounding him and the dogs alone. When you need a police officer, sometimes you don't get help or have to wait.
"The man had a rough look about him so it may be me making assumptions, but he looked rough and might have been homeless. I had never seen him in the area before."
A spokesperson for Met Police said: "Police were called just after 5pm on Sunday May 7, to a woman being attacked by a dog in Commercial Road.
"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.
"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."
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