'Pitbull-type' dog mauls five police officers Five police officers have been injured by a 'Pitbull-type' dog whilst executing a warrant in Newham, east London. Photograph: Mike Taylor/Corbis Five police officers have been hospitalised after being mauled by a dog while they raided a suspect's house in east London. Police marksmen later shot dead the animal. One officer is facing skin grafts on his body and three others are understood to be in a serious condition after the "pit bull-type" animal went berserk as its owner was arrested. All five constables were taken to hospital with leg and hand wounds as chaos ensued during a morning swoop in Albert Square, Newham. A dog unit and CO19 Specialist Firearms Command were called to deal with the animal while bloodied officers arrested the suspect, in his 20s, for grievous bodily harm and kidnapping. Oliur Rahman, 28 who was staying at his girlfriend's house on Albert Square said that officers fired at least two shots before the animal was killed. I was asleep, and I woke up because there was shit loads of screaming. I put my head out of the window. I saw police officers smacking something that was on the floor. Rahman, who said that the attack took place at around 10.15am on Thursday said that officers also used a battering ram and batons to beat the dog down. The dog actually managed to get hold of the police officer and the officer was screaming in agony ... The dog was on his hand, biting down. Rahman, who managed to film the attack on his phone added, "The dog grabbed him so hard, that the officer had no luck really." He said he could see officers jumping on tops of cars and over gates to get away. "They didn't know what to do," he said. The officers then came with guns and that's when they shot the dog. There were seven or eight of them, they were trying to hold the dog down. Even then they couldn't hold it [the dog] down. He said that after "two or three shots" the dog was eventually put down. Four of the officers were said to be in a serious but stable condition and are being assessed for whether they have suffered lasting tendon and muscle damage. The remaining officer suffered minor injuries. Dog bite incidents in the UK have risen 79% in London and 43% nationally in recent years, according to figures obtained by the Kennel Club. The incident has already led to nearby residents raising concerns over dangerous dogs, and is likely to reignite deabte on the issue. One neighbour, David Clarke said he had previously warned Newham Council that the pet was dangerous, after he reported it for attacking another dog. The 72-year-old said: "That was a dangerous dog. I informed the council about it, which is why the fencing was put up. It has already attacked another dog. The owner never had it on a muzzle or a lead, but he did after the previous attack. He didn't take it out a lot. I think people shouldn't have those dogs. They should be completely banned. Police said the raid was part of Operation Big Wing, a major Scotland Yard purge on wanted suspects across the capital. The operation was part of a 48-hour operation which saw hundreds of officers carrying out searches for people wanted by police or who had failed to appear at court. Commander Stephen Watson said the officers came under "sustained attack." All five were hospitalised. Of the five, two might be described as walking wounded whereas three sustained serious injuries which will necessitate further medical intervention," he said. I think what our officers have confronted is the bravery that they very often display in protecting Londoners on a daily basis. One man is in custody, inquiries continue, but the person was arrested in line with the original purposes of the inquiries and subsequently with offences concerning the Dangerous Dogs Act.