20 Mar 2014

Call for PNG police to act after video surfaces of police dog attack

11:38 am on 20 March 2014

Amnesty International is calling for authorities in Papua New Guinea to launch an independent investigation, after a video depicting a man being repeatedly attacked by a police dog squad surfaced on social media.

The watchdog says the video, which has not been verified, shows a man sitting on the ground surrounded by officers holding three leashed dogs lunging and attacking him.

A spokesperson for Amnesty International, Roseann Rife, says the video raises serious concerns about torture and other ill treatment by police in Papua New Guinea.

She says a marked police vehicle and uniformed officers are clearly visible in the video.

Ms Rife says PNG authorities must act on the footage and initiate and independent investigation.