Tragedy struck in a quiet East London street yesterday, when a circus lion that was being kept in a garden shed by its keeper killed and ate the man's wife and four children.
Lion-tamer, Toby Dell, 42, from Vallance Road, Whitechapel, told a local newspaper that he'd been working from home due to the lockdown, and that the beast - called Dave - had escaped while he was out taking his daily exercise.
A visibly shaken Mr Dell told us: "I can't believe this has happened, to be honest.
"I came back from my half-hour walk and found the place empty.
"I looked everywhere but there was no sign of the wife and kids.
"Then I went out into the garden, and spotted all these bones strewn around.
"The shed door was wide open, and Dave was fast asleep, lying in a sunny spot on the patio.
"I knew it was the wife and kids, because Dave had spat their clothes out. I suppose he didn't want to get the material stuck in his throat.
"I realise I probably shouldn't have brought him home, but I didn't want him turning wild during the lockdown, after all my hard work down the years in taming him."
Following the incident, the lion was shot with a tranquiliser dart and removed to a safari park, where he has now reportedly killed a roe deer, several local dogs, and attacked a family of three in their Toyota Prius.
