Beer Sheva Man Charged With Poisoning Baby Food

A 40-year-old Beer Sheva resident, Yan Shamle, has been indicted for intentionally poisoning baby food from the popular "Prinoq" brand, an act that led to the hospitalization of five young children. The Beersheba District Prosecutor's Office filed the charges on Monday, September 14, 2026, and requested Shamle be held in custody until the trial concludes.

According to investigators, between May and June 2026, Shamle unlawfully possessed prescription benzodiazepine medications. He stole jars of baby food from stores, crushed the pills, mixed them into the puree, resealed the jars, and returned them to store shelves at branches of the Israeli "Zol VeGadol" supermarket chain in Jerusalem. The concentration of the drug in some jars was equivalent to seventeen or more potent pills.

One incident involved a mother who fed poisoned food to her three daughters, aged twelve, three and a half, and eight months. The younger girls lost consciousness and exhibited severe weakness and confusion, requiring intensive care. Another similar case occurred when parents fed poisoned puree to three children purchased near Jerusalem's Central Bus Station, resulting in their loss of consciousness and hospitalization.

Law enforcement identified Shamle after analyzing hundreds of hours of store surveillance footage, linking him to the incidents in Jerusalem. During interrogations, Shamle claimed he was being persecuted and acted out of revenge, alleging threats against himself.

The indictment includes five counts of using a dangerous poison, five counts of assault against minors and defenseless individuals, and theft. Due to the severity of the crimes and the threat to public safety, Shamle faces a lengthy prison sentence.