An employee of Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo was hospitalized in late November of last year after coming into contact with toxic powder at the workplace.
The incident was reported by the Belgian newspaper Le Soir on January 8.
On November 22, the employee discovered a white powder inside a letter received at the Prime Minister’s headquarters in Brussels.
The letter contained strychnine, a toxic substance, the Brussels prosecutor’s office confirmed on Wednesday evening after analyzing the substance. Strychnine is commonly used to combat small rodents. It can be fatal if ingested and may cause skin irritation upon contact.
“She opened the letter and was affected. She was taken to the hospital, and no other individuals were harmed,” explained Barend Leets, press secretary for De Croo.
“Obviously, the incident shocked the Prime Minister and his staff. Our colleague, fortunately, is now doing well, and at the time, all procedures were strictly followed to prevent any further harm,” he added.
Similar letters were also found in the office of the Minister of the Interior on November 20 and December 9, but no one was injured. It remains unclear whether there is a connection between these incidents.
