A dog appearing to be an has been shot dead after it reportedly attacked a man and a woman. Emergency services rushed to the scene of the incident in the Rathmullan Drive area of Newtownards, County Down, on Thursday evening.

The said a man and woman were given first aid for their injuries at the scene before being taken to hospital. Several officers attended including the PSNI dog unit and the animal was “destroyed” by specially trained officers due to being a risk to the public. Footage shows armed officers approach the passageway of a property before a shot is discharged at a as it went up on its hind legs, while spray was also used.

The street was sealed off and a large police presence was in the area. There are reports suggesting the animal was an type with the banned dog also referred to by DUP councillor Stephen McIlveen who expressed his concern over the incident.

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A PSNI statement, reported by , said: "Police attended a property in the Rathmullen Drive area of Newtownards on Thursday 3rd April, following a report that a dog attacked a man and a woman.

"The man and woman were given first aid for their injuries at the scene before being conveyed to hospital. The dog was destroyed by specially trained officers, due to the risk to the public.

"As is normal procedure, the office of the Police Ombudsman have been informed."

Mr McIlveen said it was “worrying news coming from the Scrabo this evening, with an XL bully type dog having to be killed by armed police”.

He continued: "I'm hoping that no one is seriously injured. It's terribly sad that an animal has been killed in this way, but a heavily populated area where there are young children is not a suitable place for such as these that are known to pose such a risk."

Following a spate of dog attacks, the XL Bully was banned in parts of the UK and that was extended to at the start of this year. It is illegal to have the breed without an exemption certificate.

For the dogs to be eligible for exemption, they must be microchipped, licensed and have third-party insurance.

The dogs must also be neutered as part of the exemption conditions, although this can be completed after the application is submitted.