Two young children have been rushed to the hospital after being attacked by four dogs. The incident took place on a street in broad daylight today, with the children being aged four and six. Additionally, a 30-year-old woman was also injured during the attack. This distressing incident occurred on Mickleham Road in St Paul’s Cray, near Orpington in south London, at approximately 9 am today, Saturday, October 5.
Upon receiving the report, armed police and other officers swiftly responded to the scene on the residential street. The situation was brought under control as the police intervened and managed to take the dogs away. A woman has been arrested on suspicion of having dogs dangerously out of control and is currently in police custody. Fortunately, the children and the woman are not believed to have sustained serious injuries, according to the police.
A spokesperson from the London Ambulance Service provided details of their response, stating that they received the call at 8:49 am regarding the incident on Mickleham Lane, Orpington. They dispatched multiple resources, including ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic, an incident response officer, and even London’s Air Ambulance. The injured adult and the two children were treated at the scene and then transported to a major trauma centre by road.
Following the incident, Mickleham Road was cordoned off. The Metropolitan Police announced plans to deploy additional officers in the area in the coming days to provide reassurance to the community. Superintendent Mitch Carr from South Area BCU expressed, “I know this incident will have caused a lot of public concern, especially due to the young age of the children injured. Fortunately, it is believed that none of the injuries are life-threatening.”
The police have emphasized that investigations are ongoing, and the dogs involved have been taken to police kennels. The statement released by the Met Police detailed that “a woman has been arrested on suspicion of having dogs dangerously out of control after an incident in St Paul’s Cray this morning.” The children, aged 4 and 6, and the 30-year-old woman sustained injuries assessed as non-life-threatening.
The severity of the situation even impacted local traffic flow, with road closures causing delays in the area. The incident prompted an AA statement cautioning about road blockages and slow traffic on Mickleham Road between Blythe Hill and St Pauls Wood Hill, with a detour in operation for specific bus routes. However, the road was reopened by midday, alleviating the congestion in the vicinity.