Frank Siebelt and Tom Sims

FRANKFURT, (Reuters) – The chief executive officer of Deutsche Bank Asoka Woehrmann (DE:) has been the victim of threatening letters from DWS’s fund unit DWS in recent months. One in December contained red crosshairs and white powder, along with a racist slur. DWS stated on Tuesday.

DWS spokeswoman said that other members on the firm’s supervision board, such as chairman Karl von Rohr (who is also on Deutsche Bank’s management board), have been threatened with written threats.

Frankfurt police stated they were looking into the matter because of suspicions that crime was committed.

Woehrmann, a German citizen, was born in Sri Lanka.

One page was all that was included in the anonymous December letter. The centre contained large crosshairs and a red border. The letter contained the words “You Get What You Deserve” as well as a racist insult.

Reuters examined the letter. Although it was not able learn what the contents were to other people, DWS said they were threatening.

DWS did not speculate as to a motive. However, the threats come at a moment when DWS is under scrutiny after an employee made accusations that DWS had overstated the sustainability criteria it uses to manage its investments.

DWS denies the claims. They are being investigated by both the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Germany’s financial regulator BaFin. DWS was awarded a wrongful termination lawsuit this week by the employee.

DWS share prices fell when the August news broke.

DWS spokeswoman said that Woehrmann had received the December letter. Firefighters and police wore protective gear to go to Frankfurt DWS Headquarters to examine the substance. It turned out to contain baking powder.

Woehrmann received a November letter. In it, Woehrmann was informed that he had received a letter in November. According to Reuters.

Frankfurt’s fire station confirmed on December 7th that it sent four people to DWS headquarters for analysis of a substance. It did not give any further details.

WirtschaftsWoche was the first to report the existence of these letters, but it did not include all their elements like the racist slur.