Cop in hospital after two officers are mauled by ferocious XL Bully while searching for man on the run

A POLICE officer has been rushed to hospital after two cops were mauled by an XL Bully while searching for a man on the run.

The officer suffered a series of bite wounds to his upper leg after attending a property in Ibstock, Leicestershire, on Thursday.

His colleague also received lacerations to the hand, police have said.

The dog is understood to have been kept in the kitchen, but launched into a ferocious attack when the officers attended the home.

A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: "A police officer has been taken to hospital after suffering serious bite injuries in a dog attack.

"Two officers who attended a property in Lewis Close, Ibstock, were attacked by an XL Bully that was being kept in the kitchen.

"One officer suffered serious bite injuries to his upper leg, after responding to a search for a wanted man, at around 4.40pm yesterday.

"He was taken to hospital last night and remains there today.

"The second officer suffered a small cut to his finger."

The dog, which has been seized, has not yet been further examined, but police believe it to be an XL Bully breed.

A second dog, a pitbull type breed, was also seized from the address and remain in secure kennels.

No arrests have yet been made in connection with the incident.

The attack comes as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to ban the controversial XL Bully breed by the end of the year.