Police in eastern England announced on Thursday that a man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following an incident at the zoo’s crocodile enclosure. The 3-year-old boy sustained serious injuries and is currently in critical but stable condition at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.
The police force stated that the specific cause of injury remains unclear, though it did not rule out a potential link to the crocodile. A 30-year-old man from Norfolk has been taken into custody on suspicion of attempted murder. Special officers are providing support for the child and his family at the hospital.
Detectives from the major crime unit are currently investigating the incident at Johnsons of Old Hurst, a zoo, farm shop, and cafe located approximately 20 miles northwest of Cambridge. The police have not disclosed further details about the event.
According to Detective Inspector Verity McCann, authorities are interviewing individuals who were present at the zoo during the incident to gain more insight into the circumstances. It is currently believed that the arrested individual and the child are not acquainted. Johnsons of Old Hurst, a family-run business, boasts over 100 animals in its collection, including lions, tigers, sloth bears, capybaras, meerkats, and crocodiles.