An Easter egg hunt in south-western Germany took a worrying turn on Sunday when two men discovered a vial labelled "Polonium 210" in a garden, triggering an emergency response as authorities tested for the potentially lethal radioactive substance.
District fire chief Andy Dorroch said initial on-site measurements were carried out to detect radioactivity, but all of them came back negative. He added that the two men were unharmed.
The discovery led to a large-scale operation involving the fire brigade and police in the town of Vaihingen an der Enz, north-west of Stuttgart.
It remains unclear whether the 50-millilitre vial actually contained polonium 210.
The fire brigade will secure the vial in accordance with safety precautions, the fire chief said.
Reports said the area around the site where the bottle was found was cordoned off.
According to the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), the chemical element polonium is particularly dangerous if inhaled or absorbed through the skin via open wounds.
latest_posts
- 1
Why ordering takeout or calling the dog walker might lead to a happier relationship - 2Italian police hold suspected boss of Naples Mafia's Mazzarella Clan
- 3Oprah Winfrey's Favorite Wellness Destination Is A Luxurious Italian Retreat
- 45 Critical Rules For Business Regulation Chiefs
- 5Soldiers seize power in Guinea-Bissau and detain the president
- Knesset FADC extends emergency draft for 280,000 IDF reservists until January 1
- Oil magnate’s Venezuela detainment spooks industry
- Indoor Drinking Fountains: Famous Home Advancements during the Pandemic
- Paul Feig loves a plot twist. Why not reboot 'Die Hard' starring a woman?
- 75% of Arab Israelis support Arab party joining government coalition post-war, survey reveals
- Stop the ‘good’ vs ‘bad’ snap judgments and watch your world become more interesting
- New nesting beach for birds at RSPB reserve
- NASA's giant moon rocket, in photos
- 19 Strange Motion pictures You Shouldn't Watch With Your Mum
