Lawyer arrested after food injected with needles
Shoppers were urged by police to throw away food purchased at three stores in London as a precaution
Print31 August 2021
A man accused of injecting blood into food at three different grocery stores in London last week appeared in court on Friday.
37-year-old lawyer Leoaai Elghareeb was charged with contaminating or interfering with goods with intent in three supermarkets in Fulham.
The Guardian reported that on Wednesday last, Elghareeb went into a Sainsbury’s Local, a Tesco Express and a Little Waitrose, where he injected food items with blood, according to prosecutor Jennifer Garland.
Appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Elghareeb did not enter a plea.
The court heard that he first entered the Waitrose outlet at 7.30pm on Wednesday evening, where he allegedly injected a number of food items. Next, he entered the Sainsbury’s store where it was claimed that he injected more items and threw eggs. Finally, he entered the Tesco store and injected more items, prior to his arrest.
In a statement, London Metropolitan Police said they came to the scene following reports of a man shouting at people on the street.
On Thursday, police officers in forensic suits appeared in the affected stores on Fulham Palace Road, where they removed food items, including processed meat packs.
The Guardian reported the blood contents in the syringes were not immediately clear. Police officers had subsequently sent the affected food items for chemical testing.
Elghareeb was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Isleworth Crown Court for a plea hearing on September 24.
The court heard that Elghareeb is a solicitor who operated his own legal consultancy business and was a “man of previous good character”.
Related Articles
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 finalists revealed →
Milish Bakery secures multi-million euro deal with M&S →
Powerscourt Distillery announces return of “Spirit of Wicklow” Awards →
Fans 0
Followers