Pictured: Four-year-old girl mauled to death by dog in her back garden – as neighbours describe mother’s ‘desperate screams’ when animal savaged child at Milton Keynes home before beast was destroyed by armed copsMilton Keynes residents were told to stay inside as armed police cornered a dogThe animal savaged a four-year-old girl to death in a back garden last night By Natasha Anderson
Published: 06:44, 1 February 2023 | Updated: 09:33, 1 February 2023
Horrified neighbours have paid tribute to a four-year-old girl who was mauled to death by a dog at her home in Milton Keynes.
Little Alice Stones was savaged by the animal in her back garden in Broadlands, Netherfield last night.
Armed police raided the home, where it is believed they cornered the dog and destroyed it. Thames Valley Police has said no arrests have been made as they investigate the attack.
Locals left flowers outside the house this morning, while others described Alice’s mother’s ‘desperate screams’ as her child was killed by the animal. They said: ‘I heard ‘She’s dead! She’s dead!’.
‘They’ll stay with me forever. It was a nightmare. I’m heartbroken. They will haunt me.’
Police say no one else was hurt and the girl’s family is being supported by specially trained officers. Officers remain on scene today as their investigation into the incident continues.
Alice Stones, 4, was pronounced dead at the scene after having been seriously injured in the attack in the back garden of her home in Broadlands, Netherfield
Community members are laying flowers at a makeshift memorial outside a home in Milton Keynes this morning in remembrance of a four-year-old girl who was mauled to death by a dog
Police are at a home in Broadlands, Netherfield, Milton Keynes today after a four-year-old girl died yesterday following reports of a dog attack in the back garden of the property
Officers are pictured at the home this morning, which appears to still be cordoned off
Officers and paramedics responded to the home in Broadlands, Netherfield just past 5pm yesterday after receiving reports that a dog had attacked a child in the back garden of a property.
Armed officers swooped on the property last night and ordered neighbours to stay indoors as they cornered the animal before ‘humanely’ destroying it. Residents allege they were instructed by police to stay inside in case the dog were to escape.
‘Those of us who live in Broadlands been told not to leave our homes,’ a resident told The MK Citizen last night.
The householder described seeing ‘so many police and blue lights about’ the neighbourhood, claiming it was ‘really worrying.’
Officers and paramedics responded to a home in Broadlands, Netherfield just past 5pm yesterday after receiving reports that a dog had attacked a child in the back garden of a property
Armed officers swooped in on a home in Milton Keynes last night after a four-year-old girl was mauled to death by a dog
Neighbours were ordered to stay indoors as police cornered the animal before ‘humanely’ destroying it. Pictured: Thames Valley Police on the scene of the attack
An aerial view of a property in Broadlands, Netherfield shows how police cordoned off the area after a four-year-old girl died last night
Forensic tents and police vehicles are pictured at the scene in Milton Keynes last night
The child was pronounced dead at the scene after having been seriously injured in the attack. Her official cause of death has not been disclosed. Police are pictured at the scene yesterday
The newspaper claims that some homes in the area were evacuated as police warned residents ‘may hear a gunshot.’
Police confirmed last night that the dog has since been ‘humanely destroyed’, but did not disclose the method in which it was killed.
No arrests have been made in connection with the investigation.
Thames Valley Police Superintendent Matt Bullivant said last night: ‘This is an absolutely tragic incident in which we believe that a child has been killed after being attacked by a dog.
‘Clearly we are in the very early stages of an investigation, and it would be wrong and unhelpful to speculate as to the exact circumstances of this incident at this point.
Residents were instructed by police to stay inside in case the dog were to escape. Pictured: Police at the the crime scene last night
A bouquet of flowers was left near the crime scene last night in remembrance of the four-year-old girl who was killed by the dog
‘However, in order to ensure public safety, a decision was made earlier this evening to destroy the dog involved, and this has been done humanely.
‘I understand how much of an impact this will have on the community and on the wider public, and people can expect to see a large police presence in the area this evening and beyond while our investigation continues.
‘I would like to reassure people that there is no reason to believe there is any danger to the wider public at this time.
‘Anyone with concerns should feel free to approach our officers and ask questions, but I urge people not to speculate about the circumstances, especially on social media platforms.
‘I also understand that this case is likely to attract attention from the media. With this in mind I would like to ask that the privacy of the family involved is respected at this very difficult time. It is impossible to imagine what they must be going through at the moment.’
The force urged anyone with information about the incident to call 101 quoting reference number 20230131-1546 or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Reports can also be made online.