A 76-year-old man is accused of poisoning children attending a summer camp in central England, according to local police.
“On Sunday (27 July), a report was received by Leicestershire Police concerning children feeling unwell at a summer camp” in the village of Stathern, about 130 miles northwest of London, authorities announced Thursday.
Eight children, whose ages have not been confirmed, were hospitalized as a result of the incident. Police said they have since been released and are back home with their families.
The unidentified suspect was arrested on Monday on suspicion of “administering poison/a noxious thing with intent to injure/aggrieve/annoy,” police said. It’s unclear what toxic substance the man allegedly used or how it was administered.
The summer camp was being hosted by a youth center called Stathern Lodge, a property maintained by the Christian charity Braithwaite Gospel Trust, according to The Independent. Various organizations reportedly rent out the facility. The trust said it’s not involved in the camp.
Neighbors described a chaotic scene on Sunday, with ambulances and law enforcement vehicles securing the area as anxious parents tried to gather information.
Originally Published:
