Strawberry sabotage fuels fears of copycats

AUSTRALIA’S strawberry sabotage drama could be spreading to bananas due to the actions of copycats.

At least 10 needles have been found in strawberries across the country. Health authorities advised people to cut the fruits before eating them or even throw them away. As demand plunges, shops have slashed prices.

Police who caught a 62-year-old woman putting a needle into a banana in Queensland say she is not a suspect in the sabotage of strawberries. But the discovery raised fears of further copycat attacks.

Five of Australia’s six states have been affected in what farmers claim is a “vendetta” against them. Annastacia Palaszczuk, the Queensland premier, announced a £55,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

“This is putting families’ lives at risk and it’s also putting the strawberry industry at risk,” she said. “We need to catch those responsible.”