Two men found a vial labeled 'Polonium 210' during an Easter egg hunt in Vaihingen an der Enz. A major emergency response by firefighters and police followed, but detected no elevated radiation. The environment ministry confirmed the item was harmless.
In Vaihingen an der Enz, Baden-Württemberg, two residents found a white plastic vial with a red lid in their garden during Sunday's Easter egg hunt. It was labeled 'Polonium 210', a highly toxic radioactive element. The men alerted authorities, prompting around 140 firefighters from the district, including specialists in protective gear, to respond.
On-site measurements showed no elevated radiation levels at the vial or surroundings, as the city of Vaihingen reported. Kreisbrandmeister Andy Dorroch initially assessed it as genuine: 'The container fits the substance,' he said, noting its estimated 200-gram weight and professional labeling. Residents were allowed to return home.
Experts from the Baden-Württemberg environment ministry transported the vessel, opened it, examined the contents, and disposed of it. Ludwigsburg police took over the investigation. The city and police stated there was no danger to residents; the men were unharmed.
Polonium-210 gained notoriety from the 2006 poisoning of Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko in London. The substance is dangerous only if inhaled or ingested; external alpha radiation is harmless.
