Man arrested after boy, three, injured in Cambridgeshire zoo crocodile enclosure

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a three-year-old boy ended up in a crocodile enclosure, Cambridgeshire police said. 24pm on Thursday over “reports of an incident involving a three-year-old boy, during which he ended up in the crocodile enclosure”. The boy was taken to Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge with serious injuries and was described by police as being in a critical but stable condition.

The force said a 30-year-old man from Norfolk had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. “We do not believe the man arrested and the child are known to each other,” DI Verity McCann said in a statement. ” The force is investigating whether the child was attacked by the animals.

The child was allegedly thrown into the zoo’s enclosure, the Times reported. A villager, who did not want to be named, told the Press Association that the zoo owner’s wife, Tracey Johnson, jumped into the enclosure to try to save the child. Ben Obese-Jecty, the MP for Huntingdon, said he had been liaising with senior officers, who were treating it as a critical incident.

“This is now a live criminal investigation and I would ask people to refrain from speculation online,” he said. “The police will provide an update with further information in due course. ” In a statement posted on social media, Johnsons said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family following the incident that occurred today.

“Out of respect to the family, our tropical house will remain closed until further notice. If you have any questions about the incident, please direct inquiries to Cambridgeshire police constabulary. ” Pete Lewis, who was at the zoo site at the time, told the Telegraph: “I did see the boy being carried out.

” Lewis said someone came into a tea room calling for help as a boy had “fallen into the crocodile water”. ” According to its website, the zoo is home to “over 100 fascinating animals” including African lions, Bengal tigers and crocodiles. The zoo’s two largest crocodiles are called Romeo and Cuddles, the zoo says on its Facebook page.

” Charlotte Lowe, a Huntingdonshire district councillor, said she “can’t fathom” how the boy ended up in the crocodile enclosure.