A 14-year-old girl was found dead in Britain on Tuesday after apparently being mauled by five "out of control" dogs, police said.

Police were called to a house in Atherton, near Manchester in northwest England, where they found the body and "were confronted by a number of dogs that were aggressive and out of control", a statement said.

Four of the dogs, believed to be bull mastiffs and Staffordshire bull terriers, were put down humanely by armed response officers, while the fifth was secured inside the house.

The teenager was believed to be visiting the house where she died and nobody else was present.

Superintendent Mark Kenny of Greater Manchester Police offered his condolences to the teenager's family and said the incident was "extremely distressing."

"While our enquiries to find out what happened are ongoing, this girl's injuries are consistent with her having been attacked by dogs," he said in a statement.

The dead dogs are being examined as part of the police investigation. (AFP)

<관련 한글 기사>

14세 소녀, '통제불능' 개떼 공격받아 사망!

영국에서 한 14세 소녀가 “통제불능의” 개 다섯 마리에 공격당해 결국 사망하는 끔찍한 사건이 일어났다.

AFP통신 보도에 따르면 영국 북서부 맨체스터 시 부근의 에서튼 현지 경찰은 26일 (현지시간) 한 가정집에서 14세 소녀의 시신을 발견했다고 한다. 경찰은 그곳에서 “공격적이고 통제불능인” 개 다섯 마리 역시 발견했다.

소녀를 공격한 개들은 불마스티프와 스탠퍼드셔 불테리어 종인 것으로 알려졌다. 경찰은 이 네 마리를 “인도적으로” 사살되었으며 나머지 한 마리는 집에 가두는 방식으로 포획했다.

경찰은 희생자 가족에게 애도의 뜻을 표하며 매우 “고통스러운” 사건이라고 말했다.