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Eight children have been taken to hospital after an alleged poisoning at a summer holiday camp, as police arrested a 76-year-old man.
Leicestershire Police have revealed they were called to a report of youngsters feeling unwell at a camp in Canal Lane, Stathern.
Paramedics from the East Midlands Ambulance Service also attended and helped set up a triage centre to assess all children present at the camp.
The police force said: ‘Following an initial assessment, eight children were taken to hospital as a precaution and have all since been discharged.
‘Officers have contacted the parents or guardians of those children who were taken to hospital.’
Officers said a 76-year-old man was arrested at the camp on suspicion of administering poison/a noxious thing with intent to injure/aggrieve/annoy.
He remains in custody at this time, police added.
The investigation is now being led by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit’s Major Incident Team.
And detectives and uniformed officers from the Melton and Rutland Neighbourhood Policing Area remain in Stathern today carrying out further enquiries.
They are also intending to provide ‘reassurance to families affected as well as the local community’, Leicestershire Police added.
Det Insp Neil Holden, the senior investigating officer, said: ‘We understand the concern this incident will have caused to parents, guardians and the surrounding community.
‘We are in contact with the parents and guardians of all children concerned.
‘Please be reassured that we have several dedicated resources deployed and are working with partner agencies including children’s services to ensure full safeguarding is provided to the children involved.
‘We also remain at the scene to carry out enquiries into the circumstances of what has happened and to continue to provide advice and support in the area.
‘This is a complex and sensitive investigation and we will continue to provide updates to both parents and guardians and the public as and when we can.’
The force told of having referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct watchdog over what it said were the ‘circumstances of the initial police response’.
A dedicated Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has been created. Anyone with any information in relation to the investigation is asked to report online here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/33EM25I63-PO1.
