Children at Christian summer camp 'were separated from their families for hours after poisoning': Police quizzing 76-year-old man
Leicestershire Police revealed eight children were taken to hospital on Monday as a precaution after feeling unwell while attending a Christian summer camp at a site in Stathern, near Melton Mowbray.
The incident, reported on Sunday by a 'third party', happened at Stathern Lodge, a converted farmhouse with a sports hall and catering facilities.
On Monday afternoon, police arrested a 76-year-old man in a village pub car park three miles from the retreat, which is owned by a Christian charity - and are continuing to question him.
All of the children have been discharged from hospital, but residents in the nearby village of Plungar described 'chaotic' scenes following the suspected poisoning.
One described the events that had taken place as 'every parent's worst nightmare'.
Another eyewitness said the affected children were separated from their parents for 'as much as three hours' at a triage centre set up at Plungar Village Hall, leaving the adults 'distressed', Leicester Mercury reported.
Some parents were said to have begun 'screaming' at officers to let them be with their children.
Six ambulances and fast response vehicles, as well as police descended on the triage site on Monday afternoon, residents said.
One neighbour described a scene of 'confusion' and said parents were not allowed 'access' to the children.
They said: 'I saw maybe one girl with her dad. She had her toy with her. They were waiting around a lot.
'It was a bit surreal I guess, a bit odd because it's quite quiet around here.
'The parents couldn't get any access to the kids, that was the weird thing. Just been told they weren't allowed in basically. I felt for them.
'It was mostly confusion from what I could tell, there were a lot of cars turning up.'
A second resident added: 'There must've been about 20 children taken inside (the village hall). Nobody told us what was going on.
'Then later in the day we saw parents arriving to collect their children. Some of them looked a bit shaken.'
The suspect was arrested on Monday in the car park of the Anchor Inn at Plungar, about three miles from the 700-population Leicestershire village of Stathern.
Staff at the pub declined to comment today but a source told Daily Mail: 'He hadn't been inside the pub. Apparently the police were on the scene very quickly and detained him while he was still in the car park.'
Leicestershire Police said the suspect was arrested on suspicion of administering poison or a 'noxious thing' with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy.
On Thursday, a spokesman for Braithwaite Gospel Trust - which owns Strathern Lodge - said the facility was being used by a church group from Nottingham at the time of the incident.
Trustee Jonathan Jesson told Daily Mail the incident was 'horrifying'.
He said: 'The trust owns the lodge, and it lets it be used by independent groups as a self-catering hostel accommodation.
'The situation is unfortunate, and it is a bit horrifying to understand that something like that could happen. But we didn't have any control over it, and have to go with what the police are doing.
'The police have only asked for information about the building itself and giving access to it.
'We are waiting for an update from the police.
'The charity was set up by a Christian farmer in the early 1970s, and part of his will dictated that Stathern Lodge would be used for the good of young people as a hostel accommodation and a place where people could come and enjoy the surroundings and have Christian input. We are an exclusively Christian organisation.
'I have only ever heard of positive feedback before this weekend.
'I have been talking to the police, because I want the building back to get it ready for the next group. No staff are allowed to get near it.'
The investigation is now being led by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit's Major Incident Team (MIT) in order to allow a full and thorough investigation to take place with dedicated resources'.
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.
'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.
A dedicated Major Incident Public Portal has been created for anyone with information about the incident
'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 Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is also investigating Leicester Police's response to the incident.
Officers did not visit the summer camp until Monday, a day after receiving the report about poorly children on Sunday, the force has confirmed.
The IOPC said: 'We received a conduct referral on Tuesday from Leicestershire Police relating to their handling of concerns passed to them over the wellbeing of a group of children.
'Our assessment team has examined all available evidence and concluded the matter should be independently investigated by the IOPC.
'The investigation will look at whether there were any breaches of professional behaviour - namely a failure to carry out duties and responsibilities - that resulted in a delay in Leicestershire Police's response to what was later declared a critical incident.'
Local MP Ed Argar, Conservative member for Melton and Syston, encouraged the police to provide as much information as possible.
He said: 'The reports of this incident are clearly shocking and deeply concerning.
'Our thoughts are with the young people affected, wishing them a full recovery.
'While, understandably, people will have a lot of questions about what has happened, it is important we remember this is a live police criminal investigation, so I would caution against people speculating while the police do that work.
'I would, however, encourage the police to provide as much information publicly as they can, as soon as they can, but without prejudicing that vital investigation.'
A dedicated Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has been created and anyone with any information in relation to the investigation is asked to report online here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/33EM25I63-PO1.
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