There was a dramatic incident at the Penzberg vocational school on Thursday afternoon: According to the police, a 47-year-old man suffered cardiac arrest. Although he was taken to the clinic with ongoing resuscitation, he died there. Since he was carrying a bottle with an initially unknown substance, there was a large-scale operation by the police, emergency services, fire brigade and other security authorities in Penzberg and Murnau. More than a dozen people in the affected school class complained of symptoms such as respiratory problems and headaches and had to be admitted to hospital as a precautionary measure.
As the officials report, the Oberland Integrated Control Center received news at around 1:40 p.m. that a person had lost consciousness at the vocational school for nursing staff in Penzberg. The rescue workers who were immediately alerted found the 47-year-old man who had collapsed in a classroom. During the course of first aid measures, it became apparent that the man had been carrying a bottle with an initially unknown powdery substance. In order to clarify possible dangers, especially for people who had resuscitated the man and therefore came into direct contact, the man and the bottle with unknown contents were isolated in the emergency room.
With the support of the Garmisch-Partenkirchen fire department and the analytical task force of the Munich professional fire department, the substance was examined under the highest safety precautions and at great expense before it was clear that the substance was sodium azide. According to the police, this substance causes death even if small amounts are taken orally. However, after consultation with the doctors at the Murnau Clinic, it was also clear that a high risk, especially with irreversible health damage, for people in the 47-year-old’s immediate environment could be ruled out.
The operation was carried out under the direction of the Upper Bavaria South Police Headquarters with a large number of police stations. In addition to regional rescue workers and fire departments, representatives from the responsible health authority were also involved.
While still on site, officers from the Specialist Commissariat 1 for Death Investigations of the Weilheim Criminal Police Inspectorate took over further investigations into this matter. Further investigations into the case are now being carried out under the direction of the Munich II public prosecutor’s office. It also needs to be clarified how the man came into possession of this highly toxic substance. At this point in time, investigators have no evidence that the 47-year-old wanted to endanger or intentionally harm other people.