Sweetshop Owner Allegedly Kills Dozens With Poisoned Treats

Authorities say the co-owner of a sweetshop in Pakistan confessed to killing dozens of people with pesticide-laced treats in an effort to teach his older brother a lesson, AFP reports. According to the BBC, 18-year-old Khalid Mahmood owns the sweetshop with his older brother Tariq, who he says "beat and abused him." Khalid says Tariq used to "torture and insult him on every trivial thing," Such TV reports. To get revenge, Khalid allegedly laced a batch of laddus—Pakistani treats popular at weddings and other celebrations—with a bottle of pesticide, according to the Washington Post. A man named Umar Hayat bought 11 pounds of the tainted laddus in mid-April to celebrate the birth of his grandson. Gulf News reports more than 75 people ate them.

Within days, at least 30 people were dead, including a dozen or so members of Hayat's family. Hayat lost eight sons, a daughter, and three grandchildren. The new baby lost its father. Khalid, Tariq, and an employee were arrested. While Khalid allegedly admitted to poisoning the laddus to destroy the business, two other people have also reportedly confessed to the same crime. A pesticide shop being renovated nearby was storing its products at the sweetshop, and a sweetshop employee allegedly confessed to accidentally adding pesticide to the laddus. The owner of the pesticide shop himself also allegedly confessed to the crime, saying he had gotten into an argument with Tariq. But Khalid was able to lead authorities to the empty pesticide bottle they say he discarded in a field. (More murder stories.)