Two schoolboys have been charged with an alleged break-in at a college where some animals died.
The 11 and 12 year old children are scheduled to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court tomorrow for two burglary charges and one animal cruelty charge.
A break-in was reported at Capel Manor College in Gunnersbury Park, west London on February 25.
Staff said that animals had been killed and enclosures damaged.
A barn owl named Shiraz escaped but was later found at a warehouse near Heathrow Airport, and is now being cared for at the college’s Enfield campus.
Capel Manor College is known as ‘London’s environmental college’ and provides opportunities for students to work on its estates, gardens, farm and zoos.
The institution stated: ‘On Sunday 25 February, Capel Manor College’s Gunnersbury Park Campus was broken into, causing damage to some of the animal areas and resulting in the death of some animals.
‘The safety of our staff, students, animals and community is of utmost importance to us.
‘A team is onsite working with the police in their ongoing investigation, and additional security staff have also been deployed at the campus.’
Teaching at the college was conducted online on Monday before returning to campus on Tuesday.
Principle Peter Brammall said: ‘This has been a terrible episode and my thanks go out to the dedicated team of staff who worked tirelessly over Sunday and Monday to deal with and restore the devastation left by the intruders.
‘Our campus is now back open, student lessons are back on track and the team is working with our partners to bring in new animals over the next few weeks to replace those that were sadly lost.’
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