Austrian authorities arrested a 39-year-old man on Saturday in connection with an attempted blackmail plot involving the contamination of HiPP baby food jars with rat poison [1]. The suspect faces allegations of trying to extort HiPP, a German family-run company, after placing poison inside five jars of baby food recovered last month in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia before consumption [1].
The extortion demand, reportedly sent in March via email, demanded €2 million ($2.3 million) within six days, threatening further contamination if the money was not paid [1]. Police have found 15 micrograms of rat poison inside a 190-gram jar containing carrots and potatoes seized in Austria [1]. A second potentially poisoned jar remains under investigation in Austria [1].
HiPP, founded over 120 years ago in Bavaria, Germany, said its German product range was not affected by the contamination and issued a recall in Austria as a precaution [1]. German police became involved because the jars were produced by the company in Germany [1].
Sources differ on where the suspect was arrested; police stated Burgenland in southern Austria, while other reports claimed Salzburg near the German border [1].
The police and investigators continue to search for additional contaminated products and gather evidence related to the extortion attempt. The case remains under active investigation as authorities seek to prevent further threats targeting baby food safety [1].