Family dog kills seven-month-old baby in southern Germany

Breed of dog remains unclear, but police and shelter staff describe 'Staffordshire' and 'boxer' mixes

(Stock image) An American Staffordshire Terrier (Getty Images)

A seven-month-old baby has died after being bitten in the head by the family's dog in southern Germany, police have said.

The incident took place in Bad Koenig, some 30 miles southeast of Frankfurt in Hesse state. Police said they were yet to establish why the dog attacked the child.

The dog has been taken to an animal shelter in nearby Michelstadt, according to Bild.

The breed of the dog remains unclear. A police spokeswoman described the animal as a Staffordshire mix while shelter staff referred to a boxer mix, acting "very aggressively".

A local news website, hessenschau.de, said the baby was bitten on Monday and taken to hospital, where its condition was stabilised, but that it later died on Monday night.

The incident took place almost a week after two people were killed by a dog in northern Germany.

A 52-year-old woman and her 27-year-old son were killed by a Staffordshire terrier they owned on April 3 in Hannover.