CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND — A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a three-year-old boy was injured in a crocodile enclosure at a zoo near Cambridge, police said on Thursday.
Cambridgeshire Police said officers were called to Johnsons of Old Hurst, a zoo near Huntingdon, shortly after early afternoon on Thursday following reports that a child had entered a crocodile enclosure. The boy was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge with serious injuries and was later reported to be in critical but stable condition, according to police.
Authorities said a man from Norfolk was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. Investigators said they do not believe the suspect and the child were known to each other.
Details surrounding how the boy came to be in the enclosure remain under investigation. Some media reports cited witness accounts alleging the child was thrown into the enclosure, but police had not publicly confirmed those claims as of Friday. Officials said detectives were continuing to gather evidence and speak with witnesses.
“We are working to establish the full circumstances of what happened and are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward,” Detective Inspector Verity McCann of Cambridgeshire Police said in a statement.
Emergency services, including air ambulance personnel, responded to the incident. Police said specialist officers were providing support to the child’s family.
Johnsons of Old Hurst, a family-run attraction that houses a range of animals including reptiles and crocodiles, said it was cooperating with investigators. The zoo expressed concern for the child and his family but declined to comment further because of the ongoing criminal investigation.
Local officials also urged the public to avoid speculation while inquiries continue. Ben Obese-Jecty, the local member of parliament, said his thoughts were with the boy’s family and thanked emergency responders for their actions.
The incident prompted the temporary closure of the crocodile exhibit while investigators examined the area. Other parts of the zoo remained open, according to local reports.
Police have not released the identity of the suspect, and no formal charges had been announced by Friday. Investigators said inquiries were ongoing and that further updates would be provided as more information becomes available.
The child remained hospitalized in critical but stable condition, while the arrested man remained in police custody as the investigation continued.
