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Elderly man arrested on suspicion of poisoning children at UK summer camp

Eight children were taken to hospital.
Henry AustinBy Henry Austin
Police officers at the scene in Stathern, Leicestershire, after a 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of administering poison at a summer camp which led to eight children being taken to hospital. A triage centre was set up at a nearby village hall, and eight children were taken to hospital as a precaution and have all since been discharged, Leicestershire Police said. The man was arrested at the scene and remains in custody where he is being held on suspicion of administering poison/a noxious thing with intent to injure/aggrieve/annoy. Picture date: Thursday July 31, 2025. (Photo by Jacob King/PA Images via Getty Images)

Elderly man arrested on suspicion of poisoning children at UK summer camp

Eight children were taken to hospital.
Henry AustinBy Henry Austin

A 76-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of administering poison after children fell ill at a summer camp in central England, police said in a statement Thursday.

Eight children were taken to the hospital, police in Leicestershire, a county around 160km north of London, said. All of them have since been discharged.

The investigation began after police were alerted by a third party about children feeling sick at a summer camp near the village of Stathern, the statement said, adding that officers and ambulance crews were dispatched to the scene to further safeguard affected children.

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A triage center was set up at a nearby village hall to assess the children, and officers contacted the parents or guardians of the kids who were taken to the hospital.

A 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of administering poison or “a noxious thing with intent to injure/aggrieve/annoy. He remains in custody at this time,” the statement added.

“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,” Detective Inspector Neil Holden, the senior investigating officer, said in the statement.

He added that officers remain at the scene to continue inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident, and to provide advice and support.

Local lawmaker Ed Argar, the MP for Melton and Syston, said that the reports were “clearly shocking” and “deeply concerning.”

“Our thoughts are with the young people affected, wishing them a full recovery,” he said, adding that he “would caution against people speculating while the police do that work.”

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