Man, 76, Arrested Over Alleged Summer Camp Poisoning as 8 Children Are Hospitalized After Falling Ill: Police By Becca Longmire

An elderly man was arrested after eight children fell ill at a summer camp in England and were taken to the hospital, police said.

On Sunday, July 27, Leicestershire Police responded to a report made by a third party “concerning children feeling unwell at a summer camp in Canal Lane” in the U.K. village of Stathern, per a news release.

“Following the report, officers were deployed along with the East Midlands Ambulance Service to safeguard those children concerned,” police said, confirming that “all children present at the camp” had since been assessed.

“Following an initial assessment, eight children were taken to hospital as a precaution and have all since been discharged,” the release stated.

Police confirmed officers had “contacted the parents or guardians of those children who were taken to hospital,” adding that a suspect had been arrested on suspicion of poisoning.

“A 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of administering poison/a noxious thing with intent to injure/aggrieve/annoy. He remains in custody at this time,” the release — shared on Thursday, July 31 — stated.

Local Detective Inspector Neil Holden, the senior investigating officer on the case, said: “We understand the concern this incident will have caused to parents, guardians and the surrounding community,” per the release.

“We are in contact with the parents and guardians of all children concerned,” 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.”

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“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,” Holden went on.

“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,” he concluded.

The investigation is now being led by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit’s Major Incident Team (MIT), police confirmed, adding that this will allow for “a full and thorough investigation to take place with dedicated resources.”

Further inquiries are being carried out by authorities “to establish the circumstances of the incident as well as providing reassurance to families affected as well as the local community,” the release noted.

The post also said, “Due to the circumstances of the initial police response, the force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC),” referencing the public body that oversees police complaints in the U.K.

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An IOPC spokesperson said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE, “We received a conduct referral on Tuesday (29 July) 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,” they added.

“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,” the statement concluded.

Per the BBC, the children who fell ill had been attending camp at Stathern Lodge.