Dog’s savage attack on gentle police horse that Camilla befriended

THE owner of a powerful dog that savaged a police horse in a park tried to play down its danger to the public yesterday.

The horse, once befriended and stroked by Queen Consort Camilla during a royal visit, suffered multiple bloody wounds on its body and legs.

But student Hakan Niyazi, 24, claims that Coco, his American Bully, is a ‘friendly’ dog and the attack only happened when she felt threatened by the horse.

The attack was filmed and in graphic footage posted on social media Mr Niyazi appears powerless to control his animal after letting it off the lead. Coco is seen darting between the horse’s legs to bite it, at one point forcing it to drop to its knees.

Two mounted officers are heard calling on the public to ‘be brave’ and intervene in Victoria Park, east London. One man tries to force the dog off with a stick and finally someone manages to drag it away.

The horse, named Urbane, appeared calm and gentle when pictured with Camilla in 2019.

Mr Niyazi, who lives close to the park, said yesterday: ‘I was trying my hardest. I tried to grab her. She was intimidated by the horse. She felt threatened. I thought the horse was going to kick me.’

He called Coco his ‘pride and joy’ and ‘my little girl’ and fears that she will now be destroyed.

‘She’s so friendly,’ but added: ‘Next time I know not to take my dog off a lead.’

His brother said: ‘It is basically in training. It is by no means vicious to kids or other pets. The dog had never seen a horse before.’ Yesterday police released pictures of Urbane’s injuries and a spokesman said: ‘The dog remains in police kennels and officers are in contact with its owner.

‘No arrests have been made. Inquiries continue.’

The force said on Twitter: ‘We can’t stress enough how important it is to keep dogs on a lead if you can’t recall them or get them under control. Huge thanks to members of public who tried to help Urbane.’

American Bullys, which are legal despite being bred from banned American pitbull terriers, have killed one adult and two children in Britain during the last two years.