Czech police advise caution after reports of poisoned bottled water

Czech police are urging the public to stay alert, but not to panic, after a blackmailer claimed to have placed bottles of water containing the poisonous substance ricin in Prague supermarkets. 

Officials said over the weekend that preliminary tests on a bottle recovered in Brno last week suggested the presence of ricin, but specialists are still analyzing the substance to determine how dangerous it is.

Investigators say the blackmailer first demanded 66 bitcoins, worth about CZK 152 million, threatening to poison bottled drinking water in shops and restaurants if not paid. In an email sent to a Czech newsroom on Saturday, he complained of not receiving the money and claimed to have placed two poisoned bottles in Prague.

For now, officials recommend buying only factory-sealed beverages and remaining attentive while shopping. Investigators continue to track the sender of the ransom emails and have not ruled out additional measures if new evidence appears. Police say they are investigating whether the messages were meant to cause panic or disrupt emergency services.

Authorities have strengthened security in shopping centers and called on store staff and shoppers to watch for bottles that may look tampered with. Anyone who finds something unusual or suspicious should immediately call emergency number 158. Police emphasized that, at this stage, there is no evidence anyone has been harmed.

“Police officers encounter threats quite often, but we still approach them with maximum seriousness and caution,” Jozef Bocán, spokesman for the Czech Police Presidium, told CNN Prima News.

Ricin, a toxin made from castor beans, can be fatal in very small doses if swallowed or inhaled. Public health experts working with police are assessing whether the form found in the Brno bottle is capable of causing serious harm. Results from detailed laboratory testing are expected in the coming days.

Czechia has dealt with similar cases before. In 2020, a prisoner in Pilsen was sentenced for sending letters threatening to poison drinking water in several cities unless he received money and other demands.