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Crime scene in Weiden: who dumped ecstasy in the champagne?
Photo: Armin Weigel / dpa
After the fatal incident in an Upper Palatinate bar, the police are checking the origin of a champagne bottle.
"The distribution channel is carefully examined," said senior public prosecutor Gerd Schäfer.
Previously, five women and three men had massive health problems after drinking champagne at a bar in Weiden on Saturday night.
They were treated in the hospital, a 52-year-old died on Sunday night.
According to Schäfer, the bottle contained ecstasy in a “considerable concentration”.
According to the investigators, it will be checked where or by whom the bottle could have been manipulated.
It is quite possible to open a bottle, fill in the drug and close the bottle again in such a way that it is not noticeable.
The manufacturer has not yet been contacted, according to public prosecutor Schäfer.
The guests in the restaurant are said to have immediately complained about the taste of the champagne.
"It must have been conspicuous, not to say horrible," said Schäfer.
The ecstasy contained in the bottle was so highly concentrated that even a small amount was enough to cause physical reactions.
Two victims had left the clinic on Monday.
By noon, some of the injured had already been questioned as witnesses.
According to Schäfer, further surveys are pending.
screams and convulsions
According to police, several people were lying on the ground when emergency services arrived.
The Bayerischer Rundfunk reports that the guests were brought outside screaming and shaking with cramps.
According to information from the dpa news agency, the investigators are currently not assuming that one of the guests poured the drug into the bottle.
One participant from the group also filmed the opening of the bottle.
The group is said to have been regular guests – the landlady also clinked glasses.
According to a police spokesman, the restaurant will remain closed for the time being.
A special commission called "Market" is working on clarifying the case.
Officials are asking for witnesses.
jpz/dpa
