An unidentified person gave a child in Groß-Zimmern, southern Hesse, a chocolate bar pierced with a nail during Halloween activities on Saturday, police reported on Monday. The child did not eat the bar. Investigators are treating the incident as attempted aggravated bodily harm and are seeking witnesses.
Anyone who noticed anything suspicious in Groß-Zimmern on Saturday evening can contact the criminal police in Darmstadt at 06151/9690.
Police said they currently have no indications of other cases involving manipulated or poisoned sweets, although further incidents cannot be ruled out. Officers recommend that parents inspect Halloween treats together with their children.
Particular caution is advised if sweets smell or look unusual, are deformed or have damaged packaging. In such cases, parents should contact the nearest police station. After Halloween, needles, nails and other metal objects were reportedly found in collected sweets in several German states.
Sources: FAZ.