Germany Death of German in Istanbul presents investigators with a mystery
Several days after the death of a mother from Hamburg and her two children during a vacation in Istanbul, the case has left investigators puzzled. So far, the authorities are assuming food poisoning as the cause, but investigations are being conducted in several directions. Most recently, the family's hotel also came under scrutiny after two other tourists were admitted to hospital with signs of poisoning.
16.11.2025, 09:19
16.11.2025, 15:02
SDA
According to the state news agency Anadolu, the authorities evacuated the hotel in the Fatih district on Saturday evening and sealed the building. The guests were relocated. According to official figures, no unusual increase in food poisoning cases was recorded in Istanbul.
Eight suspects arrested
According to media reports, eight suspects have now been arrested: four street food vendors on Friday, three more suspects on Saturday, including a person in charge of the hotel, and most recently a baker from the area around the hotel. It was unclear whether the arrests were connected. The authorities did not comment at first.
According to Anadolu, the police forensics team also took samples of the drinking water and took all the items to be examined in the laboratory. A room on the first floor had also been disinfected with chemicals - presumably pesticides for pest control.
Father from Hamburg still in intensive care
The father, mother, six-year-old son and three-year-old daughter had traveled to Istanbul a week ago. According to Anadolu, the family was admitted to hospital on Wednesday with suspected food poisoning due to nausea and vomiting and has since been discharged.
After their condition worsened, the entire family was taken to hospital again during the night. Shortly afterwards, both children died, followed by the mother on Friday. The father is still in intensive care - nothing new is known about his condition.
Laboratory results, which are still pending, should provide more precise information about the cause of death. According to Anadolu, an initial autopsy report provided hardly any significant clues.
Other tourists not in mortal danger
The three Hamburg residents were buried on Saturday in Afyonkarahisar in western Turkey. The new cases of illness are tourists from Italy and Morocco.
The head of the Istanbul Health Directorate, Abdullah Emre Güner, wrote on X that the condition of the two tourists was good and that they would continue to be monitored. Another vacationer who stayed in the room with the two was examined because of a slowed heartbeat. His condition is good.
According to state broadcaster TRT, the four people arrested on Friday were selling sweets, stuffed mussels and a dish made from veal intestines (kokorec). They are accused of involuntary manslaughter, Anadolu reported. According to the report, all suspects have previous convictions for other offenses. The authorities also closed a store where the family is said to have eaten.
