A police dog that was first on the scene after the terror attack at Manchester Arena will be honoured with a PDSA Order of Merit this month.
British Transport Police dog Mojo helped to search the arena for potential secondary explosives in the aftermath of the attack last year.
Mojo and his handler PC Phil Healy had returned home after an early shift on 22 May 2017, when the news came through of an explosion at the Arianna Grande concert inside Manchester Arena.
The pair immediately made their way back to work and were the first dog team on the scene. Their first task was to search Victoria train station’s concourse, which was being used as the main area for treating casualties.
“Mojo searched around the injured victims to make sure that the area was safe and clear of further explosives, for the responding emergency services and the public,” PC Healy said.
Next they moved to the arena itself and the site of the explosion, working in horrendous conditions to secure the area.
PC Healy explained: “Mojo was working well but he was somehow different. It was as though he didn’t want to be there, among the carnage that surrounded him. But despite this he worked on, clearing the area so that the Firearms Unit could move out of the area safely.”
Mojo worked alongside his handler until 7am the following morning, and on their way home, they were called out again to follow up on reports of a suspicious item elsewhere. Mojo retired from police duties in August this year.
Commenting on Mojo’s award, PDSA director-general Jan McLoughlin said: “PD Mojo worked tirelessly through unimaginable scenes of destruction and utter chaos. His role on the night was to make others safe - members of the public along with the responding emergency services, who each had their vital part to play.
“His dedication to duty, despite clearly being distressed by what he saw, makes him a deserving recipient of the PDSA Order of Merit.”
Mojo will receive his award at a special event later this month.
Image © PDSA
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