Police were called after a snarling dog attacked at least two people in Leeds city centre.
The drama began in Briggate, Leeds, shortly before 12.45pm yesterday when a Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog went out of control and attacked a street vendor and then a woman shopper.
In the first incident a man selling road chestnuts was attacked around the ankle by the black and white dog near to the premises of Bodyshop. Bodyshop assistant Ms Emma Snowden said: “The dog apparently went for the chestnut seller around the ankle and the dog’s owner began to batter it to get it under control. People passing began to gather and panic and began staring at the man hitting the dog.
“But then the dog went for this lady – I don’t know how it missed her thigh – but it grabbed the edge of her jacket and would not let go.
“She was obviously very frightened and the owner could not get the dog to let go. It went on for about 15 minutes and a large crowd gathered.
“It may not sound long, but 15 minutes is a long time in that position. The lady was inconsoleable.
“The owner was trying to force the dog’s mouth open. Then three police cars arrived and a video van.
“The dog seemed to go a bit further up the street. You could hear it, but eventually it was taken away.”
The incident spread to outside Harvey Nichols store. As people looked-on some were taking pictures. It was believed that at one point scissors were obtained to cut-free the woman’s coat.
A police spokesman confirmed officers had received several phone calls to the incident involving a black white dog with a man in a grey hoody.
The dog was reported to have attacked more than one person, including a woman whose coat it grabbed. It belonged to an 18-year-old man from the Little London and was seized by police.
Police said the dog had been housed in a kennel and a man had been arrested in connection with the incident.