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Neighbours heard a woman scream “My baby, she’s dead!” from a house where a four-year-old child was killed by a dog.
Police were called to a house in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire at 5pm on 31 January.
The young girl, who died at the scene during the incident, was named locally as Alice Stones.
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Residents were instructed to remain indoors while armed police officers hunted for the dog who killed her.
The dog was shot dead by a police marksman. A blue tent was then erected around the dead dog outside the garden where Alice was savaged.
Neighbours have recalled the screams coming from the house during the attack.
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“At first I thought the noise was from someone’s telly but it just went on and on, like a high-pitched squeal,” one resident said.
“My friend who lives nearer the house says she heard a woman shouting ‘My baby, she’s dead, she’s dead’ over and over. It’s just awful.”
Another neighbour revealed: "Those of us who live in Broadlands been told not to leave our homes.
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“Police told us it’s an incident involving a child and a dog but that’s all they’ve said.
"We just hope and pray the child is ok. There are so many police and blue lights about – it’s really worrying.”
While one woman shared: “I had no idea what was going on but there were a dozen police cars and three ambulances with their blue lights on.
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“I heard a policeman shouting in the street ‘stay inside, do not come out’. A friend of mine said another officer warned them to expect a gunshot.
“It was absolutely terrifying and I locked my front and back doors just in case. At that stage I didn’t know they were after a dog.”
Thames Valley Police say no arrests have been made and no one else was injured in the attack.
“This is an absolutely tragic incident, in which we believe that a child has been killed after being attacked by a dog,' said Superintendent Matt Bullivant.
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“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.
“However, in order to ensure public safety, a decision was made to destroy the dog involved, and this has been done humanely."
He continued: "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.”
Featured Image Credit: SWNS