Europe-wide investigations following attempted poisoning with candy

By: Moritz Bletzinger

Authorities in Austria, Germany, and Hungary have launched investigations after needles, nails, and screws were found in Halloween candy. What initially appeared to be isolated incidents now suggests a potentially coordinated action, prompting investigations across Europe.

The Austrian Federal Criminal Police Office has established a special task force and is working closely with German security authorities and the European Police Office (Europol). The goal is to identify the perpetrators and clarify the background of the incidents.

“We will do everything in our power to solve this cowardly and treacherous crime,” Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) declared at a press conference. According to the German Press Agency (dpa), the investigative group is examining whether the acts are connected. Gerald Tatzgern, head of the investigation department at the Austrian Federal Criminal Police Office, suggested the possibility that the perpetrators may be networked via the internet or social media.

In Austria, seven reports have been filed from Upper Austria, Lower Austria, and Styria. The children affected are between six and twelve years old. A ten-year-old girl in the district of Amstetten suffered minor injuries to her mouth after biting into a manipulated chocolate bar containing a metal piece. Previously, a father in Linz had discovered small nails in Halloween candy that were barely visible from the outside.

Numerous cases have also been reported in Germany, encompassing almost all federal states. In Geretsried, police are investigating the discovery of nails in chewy candies and a candy box. In Bremervörde, a nine-year-old was injured by a five-centimeter-long pin in a chocolate bar. Further findings were reported in Landshut, Gräfelfing, Essen, Hannover, and Groß-Zimmern, including sewing needles, wire pieces, and screws.

Authorities in Hungary are also investigating. In the municipalities of Gyömrő and Péteri, sharp metal objects, needles, and nails were found in candy distributed at Halloween street events. The police headquarters of Pest County initiated criminal proceedings for attempted grievous bodily harm. The police are asking the public for assistance and are requesting drivers to provide dashcam footage from the affected areas.

Investigative authorities in Germany and Austria are warning parents to carefully check their children’s Halloween candy before they consume it.