Swiss police detain several people over suspected ‘suicide capsule’ death
Police in northern Switzerland said on Tuesday that several people have been detained and a criminal case opened in connection with the suspected death of a person in a new “suicide capsule”.
The “Sarco” suicide capsule, which has never been used before, is designed to allow a person inside to push a button that injects nitrogen gas into the sealed chamber. The person is then supposed to fall asleep and die by suffocation in a few minutes.
Prosecutors in Schaffhausen canton were informed by a law firm that an assisted suicide involving use of the Sarco capsule had taken place on Monday near a forest cabin in Merishausen, police said in a statement.
It said “several people” were taken into custody and prosecutors opened an investigation on suspicion of incitement and accessory to suicide.
Dutch newspaper Volkskrant reported on Tuesday that police had detained one of its photographers who wanted to take pictures of the use of the Sarco.
It said Schaffhausen police indicated the photographer was being held at a police station but declined to give a further explanation.
The newspaper declined to comment further when contacted by the Associated Press.