BRITAIN: Five children aged 11 and 12 were arrested yesterday on suspicion of attempted murder after a five-year-old boy was found with neck injuries, British police said.
Anthony Brown was injured during an incident in woodland near a medical centre in Dewsbury, northern England, between 5.30pm and 6pm on Tuesday, West Yorkshire police said.
He was found by 22-year-old cousin Tracey Jones and a member of the public near the scene with a number of bruises to his body and marks to his neck.
"The victim is a five-year-old child who has suffered some serious injuries which is why those whose were arrested last night and this morning were actually arrested for attempted murder," Det Supt Andy Brennan told reporters.
"The injuries looked quite horrific in themselves."
The boy's father Mark Hinchliffe, who lives apart from the Anthony's mother, said he believed his son had been taken from his garden and led to the scene where he was injured.
He told ITV News: "Apparently, he was taken from the garden, taken to some woods and I don't know the rest of it."
Det Supt Brennan would not rule out media speculation that the neck marks had been caused by the child being hanged with a rope. "He has marks around his neck which could be consistent with ligature marks," he said. "There are marks around his neck which cause me concern. It's too early to say whether these were caused by a rope around his neck."
Two girls, aged 11 and 12, two 12-year-old boys and another 11- year-old boy were arrested and are being questioned by detectives at Dewsbury police station. None of the children is related to the victim but all were from the local area.
Det Supt Brennan said he expected to make another two or three arrests soon but would not specify the ages of these suspects.
Police said they could not rule out the possibility that Anthony had been abducted but said further details about what had happened would not be available until detectives spoke to him.
He was now being interviewed by specialist officers after he was released from hospital.
"Clearly it will be a painstaking account that will be taken from him covering all aspects in relation to how he ended being in the location he was found and what has taken place," Det Supt Brennan said. "Clearly the family are very distressed."
The detective added: "I would appeal to anyone close to the woods near the medical centre to come forward."