A savage pitbull mauled a young girl as she played in a fountain in Mexico City.

In shocking footage, children are seen frolicking in fountains in the Iztacalco area of the Mexican capital.

Suddenly, a dog runs into the center of the group and begins to jump up at them.

It is not clear if the dog wants to play or is on the verge of attacking.

But in seconds it has leaped at one of the children.

The pitbull tries to bite one of the before successfully attaching itself to a young girl's arm by its jaws.

The girl screams in pain and, as the dog clamps tighter, onlookers rush to her aid.

The pitbull charged at the children who were playing in the fountain in Mexico City

After a vicious tussle and a sharp kick from an onlooker the dog lets go before being restrained by a police officer, who pulls it away from the children.

The horrifying footage has received over 220,000 views in just two days.

The seriousness of the girl's injuries is not known.

It is unclear if the owner of the dog was sanctioned and no arrests have been reported.