A devastating incident has unfolded in Istanbul where a German-Turkish family met a tragic end during what should have been a memorable holiday. A mother and her two young children have died from suspected poisoning, leading to the evacuation of their hotel and the arrest of eight individuals connected to the case.
What Happened at the Istanbul Hotel?
The tragedy began unfolding in the Fatih neighbourhood of Istanbul when a family from Hamburg started experiencing severe health complications. According to regional health chief Abdullah Emre Guner, the father of the family passed away on Monday after spending several days in critical condition at a local hospital.
The situation had initially surfaced when the two children, aged just 3 and 6 years old, were admitted to hospital on Wednesday suffering from nausea and vomiting. Although they were initially discharged after treatment, their condition rapidly deteriorated, forcing the entire family of four to be readmitted during the night.
Tragically, both children died shortly after being readmitted, followed by their mother. The three victims were laid to rest on Saturday in a town within Turkey's western Afyonkarahisar province, as reported by the Anadolu news agency.
Investigation Reveals Multiple Possible Causes
Authorities are exploring several potential sources of the poisoning that claimed these innocent lives. While food poisoning remains a primary focus, investigators made a concerning discovery about the hotel itself.
Forensic teams found that a ground-floor room had recently been treated with chemicals, likely pesticides, according to reports from the Hurriyet news website. This revelation has expanded the scope of the investigation beyond just food-related causes.
Police have taken decisive action, detaining a hotel employee and two pest control workers. The net widened further with the arrest of a baker working near the hotel, bringing the total number of arrests to eight people connected to the tragic incident.
Street Food Under Scrutiny
The family's food consumption patterns have become a crucial part of the investigation. Daily Sabah newspaper reported that the family had consumed stuffed mussels from a street vendor and soup along with kokorec (a dish made from calf intestines) at another shop.
Additional reports from Anadolu news agency indicated they also ate chicken during their stay. Among the eight people arrested are four street food vendors, highlighting the seriousness with which authorities are treating the food poisoning angle.
When questioned by CNN Türk about potential food poisoning at the hotel, one of the hotel owners defended the establishment, noting that there was no restaurant on the premises and that only water was available to guests. Forensic investigators have collected samples of the drinking water for analysis.
The investigation continues as authorities work to determine the exact cause of this heartbreaking incident that has left an international community in mourning and raised serious questions about tourist safety in one of Turkey's most popular destinations.
