Man arrested for 'injecting food with syringes' at three supermarkets
A man has been arrested and charged after foods were injected with needles at three UK supermarkets.
On Wednesday (local time), police arrested a suspect in Hammersmith and Fulham following reports of a man shouting abuse to people on the street.
"The man is reported to have gone into three supermarkets in Fulham Palace Road SW6 and injected foodstuffs with a number of needles," Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
In a later statement, police said 37-year-old Leoaai Elghareeb was charged with contaminating or interfering with goods with intent.
The supermarkets impacted by the alleged contamination include a Sainsbury's Local, a Tesco Express and a Little Waitrose, all located on Fulham Palace Road in London.
Police said the food items believed to have been affected were processed meat and microwavable products.
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"It is currently unknown as to how many items have been contaminated, or what with," police said in the statement.
"Investigations are on-going to establish if other businesses in the area are involved in the incident.
"The Local Authority Environmental Health team have been informed and are working with the supermarket branches affected."
The public was also advised to dispose of any food items which had been purchased at the impacted supermarkets on Wednesday as a precaution.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council announced on Facebook its Environmental Health team were working with the affected supermarket branches.
Metropolitan Police said there was no evidence the man was working with a group and there had been no other reports of similar incidents, according to the Evening Standard.
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