A six-year-old girl has been bitten by a police dog after it was set on a suspected car thief.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has launched an internal investigation into the horrific attack which left the girl in hospital overnight. She suffered no serious injuries, police said.
The incident took place on Briscoe Lane in Newton Heath in the north east of the city at around 8pm on Tuesday evening.
A driver had fled the scene and the dog was sent after him.
A GMP spokesman said: "A police dog was deployed to pursue the offender and during the chase a six-year-old girl was unfortunately bitten.
"The girl was taken to hospital and kept in overnight for observation. Her injuries are not believed to be serious.
"An automatic referral has been made to the Greater Manchester Police Professional Standards Branch."
