Bavaria
Poison in the champagne – the search for the culprit is ongoing
Police officers in front of a bar in Weiden. A 52-year-old man may have died of poisoning after visiting a restaurant. Photo: Armin Weigel/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Several people celebrate in a restaurant in the Upper Palatinate, champagne flows. Suddenly the guests collapse, one dies. The police have a suspicion.
Poisoned champagne is said to have led to the death of a man in a restaurant in Weiden in the Upper Palatinate.
“It had a toxic, poisonous effect,” said senior public prosecutor Gerd Schäfer on Monday. “There were things in it that don’t actually happen in a champagne.” The toxicological studies have been completed. “There are already results”. It is still unclear whether these will be published on Monday. Schäfer did not want to confirm media reports that the champagne could have been mixed with the drug ecstasy.
According to him, there is a suspicion of negligent homicide. Detected in all directions. “There are suspicions.” Schäfer initially did not want to give any details – not even whether someone was already listed as a suspect.
According to previous knowledge, several guests between the ages of 33 and 52 shared a drink late on Saturday evening. Soon after, all symptoms of poisoning became noticeable, as the investigators announced on Sunday. Eight of those affected were taken to a hospital, and a 52-year-old from the Schwandorf district died on Sunday night. According to the police, one victim has now been able to leave the clinic.
A police spokesman said the autopsy could be ordered on Monday. A special commission called “Market” has taken over the investigation. On Monday, among other things, other witnesses should be questioned.