AN attempted murder by a poisoned sandwich at a company in North-Western Germany has led Police and Prosecutors to open investigations into 21 other deaths.

Authorities are looking into deaths dating back to the year 2000, police and prosecutors said in a statement.

The 21 cases involve employees of the company in the town of Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock, who died before going into retirement, often from heart attacks or cancer.

A 56-year-old employee has been in custody since May for allegedly spreading a toxic powder on the sandwich of a co-worker.

The suspect was caught on closed-circuit TV footage with the substance after another person at the company noticed something suspicious on his lunch.

It is unclear what motivated the suspect, who has refused to speak about the allegations.

According to the police and prosecutors’ statement, investigators found potentially harmful substances in his flat, including lead, cadmium and substances for making quicksilver.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the man had spread lead acetate onto the bread.

The amount was allegedly enough to cause serious organ damage. (Dpa/NAN)

– Jun. 27, 2018 @ 13:45 GMT |