[Ammi]

A 76-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of poisoning a group of children at a summer camp in Leicestershire.

Police officers, paramedics and an air ambulance were scrambled to the camp on Canal Lane in the village of Stathern at around 4pm on Sunday, 27 July, after reports that a group of children were feeling unwell.

After being transported to a triage centre at the nearby village hall in Plungar, the children were assessed by the ambulance service, and eight were taken to Queen’s Medical Centre as a precaution.

The children had been attending a summer camp at a youth centre called Strathern Lodge, which is owned by the Christian charity Braithwaite Gospel Trust.

A representative of the trust said that while it maintains the upkeep of the building, the centre is self-catered and is hired out by various organisations for education holidays and events. It has no direct involvement with the camp.

The children have since been discharged from hospital, and their parents have been informed.

The 76-year-old man was arrested at the camp on suspicion of administering a poison with intent to injure, and remains in police custody.

Ed Argar, Conservative MP for Melton and Syston, said the reports were "clearly shocking" and "deeply concerning".

"Our thoughts are with the young people affected - wishing them a full recovery," he added.

He said while he understood people “will have a lot of questions” he urged caution against people speculating about what happened while police investigate.

On Thursday afternoon, a police cordon remained in place on Canal Lane just outside the small village.

Two police cars and three officers were stationed at the cordon while other police vehicles were seen leaving the site.

Detective Inspector 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.

Describing it as a “complex and sensitive investigation”, he added: “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.



…full article…
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/man-76-arr...111954409.html

[bots]

crazy guy on the loose

[Niamh.]

Jesus. How did he do that I wonder?

[Ammi]

Youtube video

[Cherie]

If the children were feeling ill why were the police called first and not the ambulance service, something strange going on here

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Jesus. How did he do that I wonder?

Maybe they picked mushrooms and ate them

or he fed them nettle soup with extras

They are all fine I wont be surprised to hear that this was an accidental poisoning, if he was helping run a camp he must have had a DBS check

[Maru]

Originally Posted by Cherie

If the children were feeling ill why were the police called first and not the ambulance service, something strange going on here

Maybe a CYA measure with so many kids involved... and if they were questioning someone on campus while this was going on privately, then police would called in for that as well... maybe the person is the only likely connection.

[arista]

Evil.

[Redway]

Goodness.

[arista]

[Mystic Mock]

Twisted ****er.

[Ammi]

…it’s a strange story until we learn more details …he was arrested on suspicion of administering poison/a noxious thing ‘with intent to injure/aggrieve/annoy’…but no intent to kill/seriously harm…?…and the descriptive ‘poison’ is in single quotations in some articles so not a known poisonous substance as such…?..something that was intended to cause discomfort and disrupt their stay, maybe…?…also in some articles it’s said that the police refuse to comment on the ages and genders of the children involved…those details are often not commented on/revealed with children in first reports of stories so that seems odd phrasing to state that specifically…?…I think there’s lots of blanks to fill in atm and it won’t be released the man’s identity unless he’s charged…/…which I don’t think he has been yet…I think that I read that the police have applied to hold him for longer…

[Ammi]

…also this was a suspected ‘poisoning’ of children that apparently the police were called and notified on Sunday…but they didn’t attend until Monday…?…so there is also an investigation there as to why that was…

…it sounds as though the children displayed something like mild food poisoning symptoms or a virus or something…and then for whatever reason, it was then thought to be purposefully engineered by this person who was in a nearby pub at the time they were arrested…all very strange…the farmhouse used to be used by a gospel group/organisation/gathering but now it’s rented out by different organisations apparently…because it has relevant sports/activities and catering facilities etc…