By News Desk

A four-year-old London boy is currently hospitalised following a brutal attack by an XL Bully while playing with his brother in an East London park.

In a horrifying incident that occurred in Newham just before 6.30pm on Monday, 11 September, Nehal Islam, underwent surgery after being aggressively approached by the dog resulting in a leg bite and violent shaking that caused his shoes to come off.

The family has reported that Islam sustained five bite marks during the attack. Currently, the four-year-old is still in the hospital, and doctors are expected to make a decision on Friday, 15 September, regarding whether he can be discharged to continue his recovery at home.

The attack occurred while the boy was playing frisbee with his father and brother at Hermit Road Recreation Ground in Canning Town. Recounting the incident, his 11-year-old brother Nabil mentioned that he noticed a group of dogs in an area of the park while they were playing.

He told MyLondon, “Two smaller dogs were on a leash, but I could see a much bigger one was running around freely.”

He added, “Suddenly the dog came chasing after us while we were playing, it looked like it was the same size as me.

“Me and my brother got separated from my dad, but then the dog attacked Nehal because he’s smaller. He then bit his leg and shook him around so much that his shoes came off. My heart was beating so much, everything was happening so fast

“My dad then ran in and had to rip my brother’s shorts off to stop the dog from attacking him. It was traumatic to see the bites on his legs, I was very upset. It was disgusting. I thought I was in a dream.”

A spokesperson for Dog Control Coalition said: “Sadly, the increased popularity of American XL bullies has made them valuable commodities, resulting in irresponsible breeding, rearing and ownership, which can all contribute to an increased likelihood of aggression in dogs, regardless of breed. However, the view of all leading animal charities is that the solution is not banning more types. Instead, the government needs to focus on the improvement and enforcement of current breeding and dog control regulations, and on promoting responsible dog ownership and training.”

This comes as Rishi Sunak announced last week that American XL Bully dogs will be banned in the UK by the end of the year.