A 76-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of administering poison after several children fell unwell at a Christian summer camp in the village of Stathern.
The incident, which took place at a camp at Stathern Lodge owned by the by the Braithwaite Gospel Trust, prompted a major police response and has led to an investigation by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit’s Major Incident Team (MIT).
Leicestershire Police were first alerted on Sunday, July 27, when a third party reported that children at the camp were feeling unwell. While police did not attend the scene until Monday, emergency services were deployed to safeguard the children. A triage center was established at Plungar village hall, where all children from the camp were assessed. As a precaution, eight children were taken to the hospital, but have since been discharged.
The 76-year-old suspect was arrested on Monday evening at a nearby public house. He is being held on suspicion of "administering poison/a noxious thing with intent to injure/aggrieve/annoy."
Detective Inspector Neil Holden, the senior investigating officer, addressed the community's concerns, stating, "We understand the concern this incident will have caused to parents, guardians and the surrounding community." He assured the public that dedicated resources are working with partner agencies, including children's services, to ensure the full safeguarding of the children involved.
In a separate development, Leicestershire Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to the delay in their initial response to the report.
The Braithwaite Gospel Trust, which owns Stathern Lodge, also operates the nearby Dove Cottage Hospice.
The investigation is ongoing, and a dedicated Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has been set up for anyone with information related to the case.
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