A MAN has been charged after food was injected with a mystery substance in several supermarkets.
Leoaai Elghareeb sent a Tesco Express, Little Waitrose and Sainsbury's Local into lockdown after the incidents on Wednesday evening.
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Police officers in forensic suits speak to a colleague outside Tesco Express Credit: PA 7
Evidence bags marked as a health hazard outside the Tesco Express store on Fulham Palace Road, west London Credit: PA
The 37-year-old has been charged with contaminating or interfering with goods with intent at the three stores in Fulham, west London.
He is due before Westminster Magistrates' Court today.
Police were called to reports of a man shouting abuse in the street and "injecting food with a number of syringes".
Shoppers were told to stay away and bin anything they had bought immediately.
Officers in forensic suits were seen in Fulham Palace Road on Thursday while some foods were bagged up as evidence.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council said: "The supermarkets - Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury's - have closed and crime scenes are in place.
"Officers were called at around 7.40pm after a man was reported to be shouting abuse at people in the street.
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"The man is alleged to have visited three supermarkets on Fulham Palace Road and injected foodstuffs using a number of syringes. He has been taken into police custody.
"Members of the public are advised as a precaution to dispose of any food items bought from these supermarkets this evening.
"H&F Council's Environmental Health team are now working with the supermarket branches affected."
It is not known how many items were contaminated or what they were injected with, but a council spokesperson said processed meat and microwaveable products were believed to have been affected.
People living nearby have been left "shocked" by the "unbelievable" events.
Jessica Nilson, 33, a disability support worker, said: "It can't be real, can it? It has to be a crazy person? It can't be real.
"I don't believe that anyone could go round and jab poison or whatever it is into ready meals."
'SHOCKED AND APPALLED'
While Nick Pattison, 50, who works in the tourism industry, said: "I am absolutely shocked and appalled at the idea of someone contaminating food.
"It's terrible it's happened here."
And Roger Elston, 74, a retired finance director in the construction industry, said: "I am a widower so while I do occasionally have the odd ready meal I am very thankful I have friends that will cook lunch and dinners for me nearby.
"I am concerned but I have been vigilant and try to eat as freshly as I can.
"I haven't been ill for many, many years now. I haven't heard of anyone getting ill either so I hope this must be the first time that this person has done this."
In a statement, a Met Police spokesperson said a man had been arrested on suspicion of injecting foodstuffs with "a number of needles".
They later revealed the suspect's identity to be Elghareeb, of Fulham.
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Police forensics examine a Tesco Local supermarket in Fulham Credit: LNP 7
Little Waitrose on Fulham Palace Road, west London, was closed after a man was arrested on suspicion of contaminating food with a syringe Credit: PA 7
Police were called to the scene at 7.40pm on August 25 Credit: LNP 7
Police tape blocks the entrance to a Sainsbury's Local in Fulham, west London Credit: PA
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