Authorities in Austria have arrested a 39-year-old man suspected of contaminating baby food jars with rat poison in what is believed to be an extortion scheme targeting a major manufacturer.
Police said the suspect was apprehended on Saturday in Burgenland, a region south of Vienna. His identity and the exact location of the arrest were not disclosed. He is facing charges of deliberately causing public danger and attempted grievous bodily harm.
The development comes about two weeks after authorities discovered rat poison in baby food jars sold in selected supermarkets. The affected products were manufactured by HiPP, prompting a cross-border investigation involving German law enforcement.
Investigators revealed that five contaminated jars were intercepted before they could be consumed across Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Authorities believe the act was carried out as part of an attempt to extort the company, which subsequently issued a product recall in Austria.
One of the tampered jars was purchased at a Spar outlet in Eisenstadt, where it was found to contain 15 micrograms of rat poison. Another jar sold at the same location is also suspected to have been contaminated, but it has not yet been recovered.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing to determine the full scope of the incident and prevent any further risk to the public.
Austrian Police Arrest Suspect in Baby Food Poisoning Extortion Plot
