Man Arrested After Three-Year-Old Boy Critically Injured in Zoo Crocodile Enclosure
Police investigate whether the child was attacked by crocodiles as a Norfolk man faces attempted murder allegations
- A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder
- The boy remains in a critical but stable condition
- Police are investigating whether the child was attacked by the crocodiles
A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a three-year-old boy sustained critical injuries after ending up inside a crocodile enclosure at a zoo in Cambridgeshire.
Cambridgeshire Police said officers were called to Johnson’s of Old Hurst, near Huntingdon, at about 1:24 p.m. BST on the day of the incident.
The young boy was rushed to Addenbrooke’s Hospital with serious injuries and remains in a critical but stable condition. Investigators have arrested a man from Norfolk in connection with the incident and say they do not believe he knew the child.
Police are also investigating whether the boy was attacked by the crocodiles inside the enclosure.
Detective Inspector Verity McCann described the incident as distressing and said officers were speaking to witnesses who were at the zoo to establish exactly what happened. She added that police were supporting the child’s family as investigations continue.
In a statement, Johnson’s of Old Hurst expressed its sympathies to the boy and his relatives, saying its “thoughts and prayers” were with them. The zoo announced that its Tropical House, where the crocodile enclosure is located, would remain closed until further notice out of respect for the family, although the rest of the attraction remains open to visitors.
Meanwhile, Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty urged the public to avoid speculation on social media, describing the ordeal as “hugely traumatic” for the victim and his family. He said he was in contact with senior officers handling what has been classified as a critical incident.
