Three killed, several more suffer poisoning from tainted alcohol
Police arrest one suspect
Three people have been killed, one person was hospitalised in intensive care, and nearly ten have been treated for symptoms of poisoning after consuming poisonous alcohol in the Ostrobothnian community of Kauhava.
All of those affected had consumed the tainted booze during an evening of heavy drinking. Most of those affected were men, but some women were also involved. All were adults, and most were local people.
Police were informed about the events soon after New Year's Day. The head of the police investigation, Olli-Pekka Punkari, is giving out few details about the case.
Those who had consumed the toxic alcohol had exhibited symptoms already before the beginning of the year.
Punkari says that all who had consumed the deadly drink have been reached, and some have been questioned. He also says that the suspected manufacturer of the liquid, who offered it to his acquaintances, has been arrested.
The police urge all people who suspect that they may have consumed tainted alcohol, and who may have suffered symptoms of poisoning, to seek medical treatment and to notify the police.
Police say that it is possible that some members of the group may have been given some of the poisoned drink to take home. The police do not suspect anyone else of selling the illegal alcohol, but they fear that some people may have served some of the toxic substance in the communities near Kauhava.
Local people interviewed by Helsingin Sanomat journalist Mika Parkkonen said that there is talk in Kauhava that the incident might involve revenge, in which a man who had suffered a beating might be taking revenge by giving his attackers poisoned drink.
Officials believed that the drink involved may have been a homemade fermented liquor with poisonous alcohol added.
Various methanol-based window washing liquids, or ethylene glycol-based coolants were on the list of suspected substances.
"No homemade booze or moonshine based on yeast fermentation could have produced such deadly poisoning", says Professor Erkki Vuori, a forensic chemist at the University of Helsinki.
Automotive liquids are among the strongest available toxins, even though they do not smell or taste bad. That is why not everyone heeds clear warnings about their deadly toxic effects.
The results of the analysis into the content of the Kauhava poisoned alcohol is expected to be ready on Friday.
Methanol is thought to be the cause of 20-40 poisoning deaths in Finland each year, while ethylene glycol accounts for around half as many victims.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 5.1.2007 - TODAY |
 Three killed, several more suffer poisoning from tainted alcohol
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