An investigation will be launched after a man’s two dogs were fatally shot in front of him and he was Tasered by Metropolitan police officers, the police watchdog has announced. Louie Turnbull, the owner of the animals, appeared in court on Tuesday charged with dangerous dog offences after the incident that happened alongside a canal in Limehouse, east London, on Sunday. On Friday, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said complaints linked to the case should be “independently investigated” and that it understood “public concern” caused by the shooting. The development came just days after the Met voluntarily referred two complaints it had received from witnesses at the scene to the IOPC. Amanda Rowe, an IOPC regional director, said: “We understand the public concern regarding this incident and it is appropriate that it should be independently investigated. “We will examine whether the actions of the officers involved were reasonable and proportionate in all of the circumstances and in line with relevant policy and procedure.” Footage posted on social media showed officers pursuing a man alongside the canal as he held two dogs on a short lead. The situation appeared to escalate as the officers Tasered the man and then shot and killed the animals. In a Facebook live post earlier this week, Turnbull said: “This is really difficult for me and I am struggling with it. “I have had them since they were puppies and to have them taken away like that right in front of my face shot, and I am covered in the dogs’ blood, it was just so disgusting.” Officers were called on Sunday afternoon after reports of a woman being attacked by a dog in Commercial Road in east London. She suffered an injury to her leg but did not need hospital treatment. The police said that, as part of their inquiries to safeguard the public, they had spoken to a male who was in possession of the two dogs. It was after this that firearms officers destroyed the two dogs at the scene, a spokesman for the force said. Turnbull, 46, of no fixed address, appeared at Thames magistrates court in Bow, where he denied being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control (with injury). He admitted being in possession/custody of a dog while disqualified from owning or keeping a dog. He is due to appear at Snaresbrook crown court on 6 June.