Halloween scandal: Injurious objects found in candies

NEWS CENTER / Austrian police launched an investigation after small metal objects such as nails, needles and pins were found inside Halloween candies in various places across the country.

Austria's federal criminal police said in a statement sent to AFP on Wednesday that they had received 13 reports of metal objects being found in candy collected by children on Halloween.

Although none of the reported cases required medical attention, police urged parents and children to "check all Halloween candy carefully before eating it." An announcement was made that all candies that were clearly tampered with should be kept with their packaging and reported to the police.

AN INVESTIGATION IS BEING DONE

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and Police Chief Gerald Tatzgern announced at a press conference on Tuesday that the federal police are coordinating the investigation into the incidents.

According to the police statement, 13 cases were detected in four provinces, three in Lower Austria, three in Upper Austria, one in Salzburg and six in Styria.

A ten-year-old girl in Lower Austria suffered minor injuries to her mouth after biting into a chocolate bar containing a needle, APA news agency reported.

In the city of Linz, Upper Austria, a 28-year-old father found nails in the candies collected by his children, while a mother found needles in the candies collected by her 11-year-old daughter.