Parents of twins mauled by fox gets police guard after web attacks by animal rights activists



The family whose babies were savaged by a fox in their cots are being given police protection over fears of an attack by animal rights activists.

Nine-month-old twins Lola and Isabella Koupparis were taken to hospital with 'life- changing' injuries that left them looking like 'something out of a horror movie' after a fox crept through patio doors left open nine days ago.

Isabella has only just been taken out of intensive care and is likely to be in hospital for at least another week, while Lola was allowed home on Friday, with facial scars and a bandaged arm.



Nicholas Koupparis returns with baby Lola to their home after visiting her twin Isabella in hospital yesterday

Police who arrived at the Koupparis family's £800,000 three- storey Victorian terrace within minutes photographed a fox skulking on the patio, and East London's Hackney council has since trapped and killed four foxes in the garden.

No officials have suggested there is anything questionable about Pauline Koupparis's graphic account of hearing her daughters' screams, before finding a fox in their room.

But internet gossips have since made wild allegations about the incident, claiming there is no evidence that a fox was involved.



Pauline Koupparis with daughter Lola on Friday

Some, writing on a website called Urban Fox Defender, suggest the case is being used as propaganda in the campaign to bring back foxhunting, which was banned under the Labour government.

Mrs Koupparis, a fashion designer and former senior executive with British Home Stores, says she will campaign to help protect infants from foxes. There is no evidence to suggest she has any links to hunting.

At the weekend, a Scotland Yard spokesman said it was not aware of any specific threats against the Koupparis family but there was 'concern' about internet aggression.

A police source said: 'We are aware that there is a potential threat', and an officer has been assigned to guard the family's home.

Intruder: A blurry picture of the fox suspected of mauling the nine-month-old girls taken soon after the incident





