A three-year-old boy was taken to hospital with serious injuries after an attack at a zoo in Cambridgeshire on Tuesday afternoon, with police confirming a man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
It happened at Johnsons Zoo in Old Hurst, near Huntingdon, at around 1:24 pm. Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after reports that a child had been seriously injured after reportedly being thrown into a crocodile enclosure, per GB News.
The child was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where he remains in a stable condition. Police said specialist officers are supporting the boy’s family while enquiries continue.
A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. Detectives said they do not believe the suspect and the child were known to each other. No motive or description of the man was given by authorities.
“We do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other,” Detective Inspector Verity McCann said. “At 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.”
She added: “Officers are supporting the boy’s family at hospital and our thoughts remain with them.”
Emergency crews responded with multiple units, including a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance, and the Magpas Air Ambulance service.
Ben Obese-Jecty, MP for Huntingdon, said he had been in contact with police as the situation developed. “I am aware of the incident at Johnson’s of Old Hurst and have been liaising with senior officers at Gold Command who are treating this as a critical incident,” he wrote.
“This 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. My thoughts are with the young victim and his family during a hugely traumatic and difficult time."
Johnsons of Old Hurst is a family-run farm attraction that includes a butcher’s shop, restaurant facilities, and a zoo housing a range of animals, including crocodiles, lions, tigers, bears, and most recently, capybaras.
It happened at Johnsons Zoo in Old Hurst, near Huntingdon, at around 1:24 pm. Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after reports that a child had been seriously injured after reportedly being thrown into a crocodile enclosure, per GB News.
The child was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where he remains in a stable condition. Police said specialist officers are supporting the boy’s family while enquiries continue.
A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. Detectives said they do not believe the suspect and the child were known to each other. No motive or description of the man was given by authorities.
“We do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other,” Detective Inspector Verity McCann said. “At 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.”
She added: “Officers are supporting the boy’s family at hospital and our thoughts remain with them.”
Emergency crews responded with multiple units, including a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance, and the Magpas Air Ambulance service.
Ben Obese-Jecty, MP for Huntingdon, said he had been in contact with police as the situation developed. “I am aware of the incident at Johnson’s of Old Hurst and have been liaising with senior officers at Gold Command who are treating this as a critical incident,” he wrote.
“This 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. My thoughts are with the young victim and his family during a hugely traumatic and difficult time."
Johnsons of Old Hurst is a family-run farm attraction that includes a butcher’s shop, restaurant facilities, and a zoo housing a range of animals, including crocodiles, lions, tigers, bears, and most recently, capybaras.
