Copycats Slow Mineral Water Poisoning Investigations in Italy

Investigations on the poisoning of mineral water bottles with various substances, including bleach and soap, are becoming increasingly complicated for Italian officials.

Local public prosecutors, coordinated by the Attorney Office of Venice, are sorting through dozens of uncertified cases caused by imitators and attention-seekers.

These episodes join the "certified" list of cases, now totaling around 40 throughout Italy. The first cases were reported in late November.

Yesterday in Verona, a woman in her early 50s went to the local police office with two bottles of water that she claimed had been poisoned with bleach.

When questioned by police, the woman repeatedly contradicted herself, making it highly likely she had made up the story.

Police decided to take no legal actions against her, even though she might eventually be accused of creating a false alarm.

The increase in similar false alarms, that appear not to be related to the actual poisonings, is making the investigators' attempts to find the origin of the poisonings considerably tougher.

The Verona prosecutor, Guido Papalia, a leading figure in the inquiry, refused to make any statements on the issue before the verdict of experts who are analyzing the poisoned bottles and the nature of the toxic liquid injected into them using insulin syringes is known.

Source: AGI