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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fox attacked baby boy in own home, police say | Fox attacked baby boy in own home, police say |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A four-week-old baby boy was attacked by a fox in his home in Bromley, the Metropolitan Police have said. | A four-week-old baby boy was attacked by a fox in his home in Bromley, the Metropolitan Police have said. |
| The boy was treated for a hand injury and taken to St Thomas' Hospital after the attack on 6 February, London Ambulance Service said. | The boy was treated for a hand injury and taken to St Thomas' Hospital after the attack on 6 February, London Ambulance Service said. |
| London Mayor Boris Johnson said: "This sort of attack, though terrible, is rare, but we must do more to tackle the growing problem of urban foxes." | London Mayor Boris Johnson said: "This sort of attack, though terrible, is rare, but we must do more to tackle the growing problem of urban foxes." |
| Police said their inquiries into the incident were continuing. | Police said their inquiries into the incident were continuing. |
| 'Menace' | 'Menace' |
| St Thomas' Hospital is not commenting on the incident. | St Thomas' Hospital is not commenting on the incident. |
| But the BBC's John Andrew said: "The mother was at home and heard this awful scream, went next door where the baby was, found it had been dragged from the cot onto the floor and the baby's hand was in the jaws of the fox. | |
| "She was obviously in a terrible panic and did what she could to get the fox off, including kicking it. Eventually it did let go but the baby was found with quite serious injuries." | |
| Our correspondent said it was believed one of the baby's fingers was severed but later re-attached by surgeons, although it has not been confirmed by the hospital. | |
| Mr Johnson also said his thoughts were "with the baby boy and his family." | |
| He added: "They may appear cuddly and romantic but foxes are also a pest and a menace, particularly in our cities. | He added: "They may appear cuddly and romantic but foxes are also a pest and a menace, particularly in our cities. |
| "This must serve as a wake up call to London's borough leaders, who are responsible for pest control. | "This must serve as a wake up call to London's borough leaders, who are responsible for pest control. |
| "They must come together, study the data, try to understand why this is becoming such a problem and act quickly to sort it out." | "They must come together, study the data, try to understand why this is becoming such a problem and act quickly to sort it out." |
| Mr Johnson has previously urged councils to take action over foxes following an attack in 2010 in which two baby sisters were mauled while sleeping at their home in Hackney, east London. | Mr Johnson has previously urged councils to take action over foxes following an attack in 2010 in which two baby sisters were mauled while sleeping at their home in Hackney, east London. |
| 'Brazen' | |
| Both had to undergo surgery and were left scarred by the attack. Isabella Koupparis suffered arm injuries while her twin Lola suffered injuries to both her face and arm. | Both had to undergo surgery and were left scarred by the attack. Isabella Koupparis suffered arm injuries while her twin Lola suffered injuries to both her face and arm. |
| Our correspondent said there were an estimated 10,000 foxes in London and he said this "brazen" attack might open the debate about whether there should be a cull. | |
| An RSPCA spokeswoman said it was extremely unusual for foxes to attack people and that the animal would only do so if it was afraid. | An RSPCA spokeswoman said it was extremely unusual for foxes to attack people and that the animal would only do so if it was afraid. |
| She added: "It's not typical fox behaviour at all. Foxes will come closer to a house if there are food sources. Then they can become quite bold, but they usually do back off and run away when there's people around." | She added: "It's not typical fox behaviour at all. Foxes will come closer to a house if there are food sources. Then they can become quite bold, but they usually do back off and run away when there's people around." |
| But pest control expert Peter Crowden said he was not surprised by the incident in Bromley: "People seem to have got this perception that foxes are lovely cuddly things, and they're not, they're a wild animal, and people don't understand this. | |
| "Foxes are changing, they're looking for food wherever they can, and they're coming into man's environment, more and more." |