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Investigators found radioactive substances in Braunschweig (symbol photo)
Photo: Kay Nietfeld / picture-alliance / dpa
After a worker's death threat against his boss, investigators in Braunschweig seized “radioactive materials and potentially contaminated objects”. This emerges from a joint message from the police and the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Environment on Friday evening. According to the current assessment, "a not inconsiderable level of danger must be assumed," it says. However, there is no risk to the population or the environment.
On Tuesday evening, the Braunschweig police took a 43-year-old into custody because he is said to have threatened to kill his superiors in an upcoming appraisal interview.
According to the relevant police report, the man had learned in advance that he should be fired.
When the investigators went to his apartment, they found not only firearms and ammunition, but also various chemicals.
The police opened an investigation into the threat of criminal offenses and a gun violation.
Weapons, weapon-like objects and hazardous substances
In the announcement from Friday evening it is now said that the police had come across more weapons, weapon-like objects and hazardous substances "in several objects".
In response to a request from SPIEGEL, a police spokesman said that the accused had access to all of these objects.
The police did not provide any information about where exactly the radioactive substances were found, whether in the 43-year-old's apartment or in one of the other places.
According to the joint notification from the police and the ministry, the hazardous substances were seized and taken to the radiation protection laboratory of the Lower Saxony State Office for Water Management, Coastal Protection and Nature Protection in Hildesheim for further investigation.
According to the current assessment, "through the level-headed action of all those involved, it was possible to prevent what was obviously worse."
sos / dpa