German worker suspected of poisoning 21 colleagues

Police officers in Germany are investigating the suspicious deaths of 21 engineering workers at a factory, fearing that they may have been poisoned by a co-worker – the Evening Standard reports.

The 56-year-old suspect was found to have quicksilver (mercury), lead and cadmium at his home – all of which are poisonous.

Suspicions were raised when a colleague complained of a white powder in his sandwich, with CCTV footage later confirming the suspect had tampered with lunch boxes.

The suspect was arrested, and police are now investigating a total of 21 incidents of employees at the same company who died under suspicious circumstances. The workers all died of heart attacks or cancer – conditions that could have been the result of heavy metal poisoning, authorities said.