The Belgian Prime Minister's office received letters containing toxic powder

An unknown person sent letters with toxic powder to the office of Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. This was reported on January 9 by the publication Politico.

It noted that an employee of the Prime Minister's office was injured and hospitalized after contact with a poisonous substance. The incident occurred in November 2024, but the Belgian prosecutor's office reported about it only the day before, when the results of the analysis of the composition of the powder became known.

The letter contained strychnine, a substance often used to control small rodents. It can be lethal if ingested, and tends to cause irritation if it comes in contact with the skin, Politico elaborates.

"The incident shocked the prime minister and his staff. Fortunately, our colleague is now feeling well," De Croo's spokesman said.

According to the publication, similar letters were found in the interior minister's office twice last year, with no injuries reported. Whether there is a link between these cases is not yet known.

The Brussels prosecutor's office has indicated that the investigation is continuing.

Earlier, on January 6, Belgian military police detained a man with a knife who tried to enter the prime minister's office in Brussels. The man was detained around 10:00 local time (12:00 Moscow time), no one was hurt. In addition, he threatened police officers. It is noted that in the office of De Croo held talks on the new federal government.