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| Pit bulls seized in police raids | Pit bulls seized in police raids |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Eight pit bull terriers have been seized by Merseyside Police during raids in St Helens and Widnes. | |
| The two raids follow the death of Ellie Lawrenson, five, who was mauled by a type of pit bull terrier at her grandmother's home on Monday. | The two raids follow the death of Ellie Lawrenson, five, who was mauled by a type of pit bull terrier at her grandmother's home on Monday. |
| Six of the dogs were taken from St Helens, the town where Ellie died. Police suspect they were being trained to take part in dog fighting. | |
| A 23-year-old man has been questioned in connection with Ellie's death. | A 23-year-old man has been questioned in connection with Ellie's death. |
| The man went voluntarily to a police station on Wednesday evening on "matters arising" from the attack that killed Ellie, Merseyside Police confirmed. | |
| Inspector Ian Whitfield said the man was not arrested. | |
| Previous complaints | |
| Post-mortem tests showed the dog that killed Ellie was among the breeds prohibited by the Dangerous Dogs Act. | |
| Pit bulls are one of four breeds banned under the legislation. | Pit bulls are one of four breeds banned under the legislation. |
| Anyone convicted of owning a prohibited dog can face a £5,000 fine or six months in prison under the 1991 Act. | Anyone convicted of owning a prohibited dog can face a £5,000 fine or six months in prison under the 1991 Act. |
| Ellie suffered head and neck injuries | |
| Two previous complaints had been made about the pet, which belonged to Ellie's uncle. | Two previous complaints had been made about the pet, which belonged to Ellie's uncle. |
| Ellie was staying with her grandmother, Jackie Simpson, while her mother and father went out to celebrate the New Year. | Ellie was staying with her grandmother, Jackie Simpson, while her mother and father went out to celebrate the New Year. |
| Ms Simpson, 46, suffered arm injuries while trying to get the dog off Ellie. She has undergone surgery at Whiston Hospital. | |
| Police have yet to speak to her about what happened. | Police have yet to speak to her about what happened. |
| The dog was shot dead by a police marksman following the attack. | The dog was shot dead by a police marksman following the attack. |
| Floral tributes were laid by members of Ellie's family on Tuesday at the house in which she died. |