The National Crime Agency was given a list of addresses to visit (Picture: PA)
UK police are carrying out safety checks at addresses where a poison which has been linked to multiple suicides may have been sent.
The ‘safe and well checks’ will take place at the homes of people Canadian authorities believe bought the lethal substance from chef Kenneth Law, who was arrested on Tuesday.
The 57-year-old, from the city of Mississauga, was taken into custody after someone in Canada who had taken the substance suddenly died in March.
The victim is one of two known to the authorities who had possession of the poison after it was allegedly supplied by one of Law’s companies.
The deputy chief at Peel Regional Police in Ontario, Marc Andrews, said he was working with other forces around the world because they believe ‘there could be more victims’.
Investigators know of 1,200 packages associated with Law’s companies that were sent to addresses in more than 40 countries.
But it is not known how many of these parcels contained the poison – which is legal to sell and has other uses.
Kenneth Law, 57, is facing two counts of counselling and aiding suicide (Picture: Peel Regional Police)
Kenneth Law appearing in court in Brampton, Ontario, on Wednesday (Picture: Shutterstock)
A Times investigation alleged that Law is connected to up to 13 deaths, including eight in Britain, which took place after the poison was bought from one of his several websites.
Law told an undercover reporter posing as a customer that British people were some of his ‘most frequent’ buyers, claiming he had sold poison to ‘hundreds ‘of them.
The cook claimed was doing ‘God’s work’ after watching his mum ‘suffer greatly’ when she had a stroke.
He said: ‘She was bedridden, couldn’t speak and they had to feed her through a tube to her stomach for over seven years. And that was very painful. Not only for her family, but also very painful for me to witness.
‘This is why I created some avenue of escape, so that people, if they are in such a circumstance, can undertake it either by themselves or by somebody else.’
Need support?
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
If you’re a young person, or concerned about a young person, you can also contact PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide UK. Their HOPELINK digital support platform is open 24/7, or you can call 0800 068 4141, text 07860039967 or email: [email protected] between the hours of 9am and midnight.
Law added that up to 95% of his buyers were struggling with ‘some serious underlying issue with health or old age’.
But the oldest known victim to have died after taking the poison was just 38, with the youngest only 17.
Law, who is facing two counts of counselling and aiding suicide, will appear in court again on Tuesday.
The National Crime Agency, the authority which received the list of addresses to be given welfare checks, said: ‘We are in contact with our Canadian counterparts regarding this matter and liaising with local police as appropriate.’
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The welfare checks come after a man in Canada was arrested for allegedly selling poison which has been used for suicides in the UK.