A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a three-year-old boy ended up in a crocodile enclosure at a zoo.<\/p>\n
Cambridgeshire police said officers were called to Johnson\u2019s of Old Hurst, in Huntingdonshire, at 1.24pm on Thursday to \u201creports of an incident involving a three-year-old boy, during which he ended up in the crocodile enclosure\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe boy has been taken to Addenbrooke\u2019s Hospital (in Cambridge) with serious injuries and is critical but stable,\u201d a force spokesperson said. \u201cSpecially trained officers are at the hospital supporting the boy\u2019s family.<\/p>\n
\u201cA 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.\u201d<\/p>\n
Det Insp Verity McCann said: \u201cAt this stage we are speaking to people who were at the zoo at the time of this distressing incident to understand more about the circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficers are supporting the boy\u2019s family at hospital and our thoughts remain with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a statement on social media, Johnson\u2019s said the zoo\u2019s Tropical House will remain closed until further notice.<\/p>\n
The statement said: \u201cOur thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family following the incident that occurred today.<\/p>\n
\u201cOut of respect to the family, our Tropical House will remain closed until further notice. If you have any questions about the incident, please direct enquiries to Cambridgeshire Police Constabulary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben Obese-Jecty, MP for Huntingdon, said: \u201cI am aware of the incident at Johnson\u2019s of Old Hurst and have been liaising with senior officers at Gold Command who are treating this as a critical incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is now a live criminal investigation and I would ask people to refrain from speculation online. The police will provide an update with further information in due course.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy thoughts are with the young victim and his family during a hugely traumatic and difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alastair Torrance, deputy chairman of Old Hurst Parish Council, said: \u201cI do feel enormously for the family of the child. It must\u2019ve been absolutely terrible for the child and the family.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to its website, Johnson\u2019s of Old Hurst is a family-run farming business that now features a butcher\u2019s, a farm shop, tea room, steakhouse and zoo.<\/p>\n