Two arrests after baby killed in XL bully dog attack

Gwent Police say inquiries are still ongoing after the fatal attack on Sunday

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control after a nine-month-old baby boy was killed in an attack by an XL bully in south-east Wales.

Gwent Police and paramedics went to an address in Crossway, Rogiet, near Caldicot, Monmouthshire, on Sunday evening. The baby died at the scene.

Assistant Chief Constable Vicki Townsend said the arrests were made as part of a "wide range" of inquiries and urged people "not to speculate".

The force said the man in his 30s and the woman in her 20s were also arrested on suspicion of child neglect and released on bail.

Gwent Police said the six-year-old dog was registered and that a certificate of exemption had been issued in 2024, before a ban on the breed was introduced.

ACC Townsend warned the community over any speculation online, adding if anyone had information "on the dog involved - a male, black XL bully - and its previous behaviour, please contact us directly".

"I understand that there is a lot of interest about this in our communities, but this is now a live criminal investigation," she said.

"It is vital that people think about how their online commentary, in particular social media comments or posts, could impact the ongoing investigation and the criminal justice process."

There is a "profound sense of shock" in the community, says a local councillor

People in the village said they saw police cars and ambulances on the street late on Sunday evening, with the "quiet community" finding it difficult to come to terms with the "horrendous" events.

Rogiet county councillor Peter Strong described the village as being in mourning, but vowed residents would "stand together".

"It's a deep and profound sense of shock that such a thing should happen in amidst our quiet community."

Mr Strong appealed to local people to "give the family the space they need to grieve in peace".

An XL bully - shown here in a stock image - is the largest kind of American bully dog

It has been a criminal offence to own an XL Bully without an exception certificate since 1 February 2024, but the number of dog attacks actually increased in 2024 compared to a year earlier.

There were 31,920 dog attacks on people recorded in England Wales in 2024 – a 2% increase on 2023 – according to Freedom of Information figures obtained from police forces.

However, the figures may not show the full picture, as three police forces did not provide useable data.