German man suspected of killing 10 colleagues in poisoned hamburger plot, police say

Employee caught on video putting powder in lunchbox - prompting investigation into more than 20 deaths at company since 2000

Julian Schmidt (40)

A German worker, Julian Schmidt (40) was allegedly caught on camera poisoning a colleague’s lunch – prompting authorities to investigate the deaths of 10 other employees.

Police have arrested Schmidt on suspicion of trying to kill his colleague at ARI Armaturen, which makes industrial components such as valves, in the town of Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock.

More than 10 employees have died before retirement since the turn of the millennium, many of them from heart attacks – which could potentially have been brought on by heavy metal poisoning.

The suspect had been seen on a security camera opening a colleague’s lunchbox and putting a substance on the hamburger inside, police said in a statement.

The colleague had noticed something smeared on his lunch and notified his managers, who in turn called police.

Video footage at the company in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia showed the suspect spreading a powdery substance on the food.

A small bottle of a similar substance was found in the suspect’s bag when he was arrested.

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