Man caught poisoning co-worker's lunch prompts investigation into 21 deaths
Authorities in Germany looking at previous deaths in company after suspect spotted sprinkling toxic powder over colleague’s food

German police are investigating a series of deaths dating back 18 years at a metal fittings company after an employee was caught trying to poison a colleague’s lunch.
The authorities launched the probe after finding quicksilver, lead and cadmium at the 56-year-old suspect’s home following the attempted poisoning at the firm in the northwestern town of Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock.
The police arrested the man, who has not been named, in May, “after one of his co-workers noticed an unknown white powder on his food”, reports Deutsche Welle. The potential victim “alerted his superiors and asked them to review the recordings made by security cameras, which then showed the suspect adding the substance to the co-worker’s lunch”, adds the Bonn-based newspaper.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Subsequent tests “showed it was a poison that could have caused severe organ damage”, The Daily Telegraph says.
Further investigation uncovered 21 cases, dating back to 2000, of employees at the same company who had died of heart attacks or cancer shortly before retiring.
Experts concluded that heavy metal poisoning could have been the cause of the illnesses that led to those deaths.
“In the beginning, we thought it was a misconceived prank between co-workers, and not a murder attempt,” Tilo Blechinger, manager of the metal fittings firm, ARI Armaturen, told German news agency DPA.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Blechinger said the suspect had worked for the company for 38 years, and described him as “conspicuously inconspicuous”.
The suspect has remained silent about the allegations and his alleged motive remains unclear, police said.
-
Child trust funds explained as over £1.5 million remains unclaimed
The Explainer HMRC data shows hundreds of thousands of young people have yet to claim money they are entitled to
-
How historically accurate is House of Guinness?
In the Spotlight The glossy Netflix show about the family behind the world-famous stout mixes fact with fiction
-
The week’s best photos
In Pictures A perching raven, a fearless climber, and more
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations