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Australian vegetables poisoned as police probe sabotage

BBC News 07/11/2010 16:41
Australian vegetables poisoned as police probe sabotage - Australia - crime - poisoning


Police in Australia are investigating the poisoning of seven million vegetable seedlings, including tomatoes, aubergines and melons.



Detectives believe a herbicide was injected into the irrigation system at a nursery in northern Queensland.

The Australian farm minister described the poisoning at a Queensland nursery - the fourth such incident in eight years - as "sabotage".

Farmers and analysts say the price of vegetables will increase as a result.

The cost of the damage is estimated at AUS $23.5m (£19.7m; $20.3m US), said Denise Kreymborg of the regional growers' association.

Police are investigating possible links to the other poisonings in the region, which produces most of Australia's vegetables during the winter months.

"It could be a grudge, it could be competition-based... or it could be an act of vandalism," said Dave Miles, the acting police inspector for Townsville, near Cairns.


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