A man has been arrested for attempted murder after a three-year-old boy was injured in a crocodile enclosure at a UK zoo on Thursday (local time).
The boy is in hospital in a critical but stable condition, with serious injuries.
Police are investigating the incident. They do not believe the suspect, a 30-year-old man, and the boy know each other.
The zoo has shut the enclosure “out of respect to the family”.
Incident
Around 1.30pm on Thursday (UK time), police responded to an incident at a Cambridgeshire zoo involving a three-year-old boy, “during which he ended up in the crocodile enclosure.”
A 30-year-old man from nearby Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Detective Inspector Verity McCann said police are “speaking to people who were at the zoo at the time of this distressing incident to understand more about the circumstances.”
McCann said they do not believe the man and the child are known to one another.
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“Officers are supporting the boy’s family at hospital, and our thoughts remain with them,” she said.
Major Crime Unit detectives are investigating the crime.
Response
The zoo, Johnsons of Old Hurst, issued a statement on Thursday evening saying: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family following the incident that occurred today.”
They said “out of respect to the family,”, the enclosure where the incident happened “will remain closed until further notice”.
The zoo added that “the rest of the site will remain open as normal.”
Local MP Ben Obese-Jecty said his “thoughts are with the young victim and his family during a hugely traumatic and difficult time.”
Obese-Jecty also urged people “to refrain from speculation online.”
