The eight-legged ambush occurred around 10am on Tuesday in a shopping centre in the German capital’s Lichtenberg district, as the woman was about to pack up a plant for a customer.
The huge spider bit the hapless florist in the hand and scurried off. Showing signs of an allergic reaction, she was rushed off to a nearby hospital. Police officers and firemen then cordoned off the shop and began a fruitless search for the animal.
The Berliner Morgenpost newspaper reported on Wednesday that the spider could only be found dead after an exterminator was called. Its lifeless body was turned over to veterinary officials to determine its exact type.
Tarantulas can be found throughout southern Europe, but they are not native to Germany. Though the spiders are venomous, their bites are rarely fatal for humans.
The Local/mry
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