Police in Germany have warned parents to check their children's Halloween sweets after needles, nails and hooks were found inside candy in several locations, according to DIE ZEIT. The discoveries were reported in more than one place, and officers have advised families to inspect what children brought home before anything is eaten.
According to tagesschau.de, children in Baden-Württemberg brought home Halloween sweets containing metal. Idowa.de reported a police warning about tampered candy circulating in Landshut. NDR.de also reported that police were urging parents to be alert after needles and nails turned up in sweets.
DIE ZEIT described the incidents as attempted bodily harm. BILD reported on the finds and asked who would carry out such an act. The reports do not specify how many children were affected or whether anyone was injured.
The warnings follow a pattern German authorities have flagged before: sweets handed out during Halloween door-to-door collections can be difficult for parents to monitor, and police routinely advise checking wrappers and contents. In this case, the objects reported include needles, nails and hooks, per the outlets above.
Parents are being asked to examine their children's haul carefully and to contact police if they find anything suspicious. What to watch next: whether investigators identify a suspect or confirm how widely the tampered sweets were distributed.
