UK man charged with attempted murder after 3-y-o thrown to alligators at zoo — reports
CAMBRIDGESHIRE, United Kingdom — A toddler was rushed to hospital on Thursday after he was allegedly thrown into an alligator enclosure at a Cambridgeshire zoo by an adult man, according to United Kingdom (UK) media.
A report from The Telegraph on Thursday indicated that local police arrested a 30-year-old British man on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the incident.
The man and the toddler, who were not known to each other, the report says, were both at the Johnsons Zoo, a local family-owned establishment which has a variety of animals, including 10 species of crocodile.
Several of the animals were in the enclosure, which features a raised platform with high fences, when the boy entered the water.
While local constabulary are investigating the incident, the report quoted sources which claim the zoo owner’s wife jumped into the enclosure to save the child after an alarm was raised. The source also claimed the man had learning difficulties.
The toddler remains in critical condition, and the crocodile enclosure has been closed to the public out of respect to the child’s family, the report indicated.