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'Terror owl' frightening residents of Dutch town

Residents have been advised to carry umbrellas for protection.

By Kate Stanton
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PURMEREND, Netherlands, March 1 (UPI) -- Residents of Pumerend, a Dutch town about 10 miles north of Amsterdam, are on the lookout for an unusually aggressive eagle owl.

Dubbed the "terror owl" by local news media, the two-foot-tall creature has injured more than 20 people in recent weeks, including several elderly inhabitants of an assisted-living complex.

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Victim Niels Verkooijen described the attack as "like having a brick laced with nails thrown at your head."

The Pumerend town council said in a statement on its website that they are seeking permission to capture the owl, a protected species.

European eagle owls, which can grow to a wingspan of six feet, aren't usually aggressive. Officials believe that the owl may have been raised in captivity, so it seeks out humans for food.

Meanwhile, residents are being urged to protect themselves with umbrellas when venturing outdoors.

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