A trustee at a Christian charity where eight children were taken to hospital with suspected poisoning has described the incident as “horrifying”.
A 76-year-old pensioner was arrested after reports of children feeling unwell on Sunday at a summer camp at Stathern Lodge in Leicestershire, which Braithwaite Gospel Trust owns.
Jonathan Jesson from the Trust told the Daily Mail:
“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 trust is an exclusively Christian organisation which was set up by a Christian farmer in the early 1970s. Part of his will stipulated that Stathern Lodge would be used for the benefit of young people as a hostel accommodation and a place where individuals could enjoy the surroundings and receive Christian guidance. Jonathan Jesson said that until this week he had only ever heard of positive feedback.
All the children have since been released from hospital, but one resident said that the incident was “pretty chaotic", with emergency workers running around everywhere.
"I saw a few children in tears as they walked into the hall. It’s like every parent’s worst nightmare, dropping your child at summer camp and then being told they might have been poisoned," they said.
Assistant Chief Constable James Avery said: “I can confirm that a 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of administering poison or a noxious substance. He remains in custody at this time. The investigation is now being led by the East Midlands Specialist Operations Unit major investigation team. This will allow a full and thorough investigation to take place.”
He added that detectives remain in the area “to establish the full circumstances of the incident, as well as to provide reassurance to the families and the local community".
"This is a complex and sensitive investigation," he said, "and we do understand the concern that it caused.”
Premier has contacted Braithwaite Gospel Trust for comment.