An investigation shifts from food poisoning to a suspected toxic incident, potentially linked to pest control spraying at their hotel, as the death toll rises to four.
ISTANBUL – A forensic report has indicated that a Turkish-German family of four who died suddenly while on holiday in Istanbul were likely killed by chemical poisoning, redirecting an investigation initially focused on contaminated street food.
The family, who had traveled from Germany, fell ill last week after staying at a hotel in the historic Fatih district. While they had also eaten food in the popular Ortakoy neighborhood, the new findings point to a toxic substance in their accommodation as the probable cause.
According to the report cited by Turkish media, the deaths were more likely a result of “chemical poisoning caused by the circumstances in the hotel” rather than food poisoning. The investigation is now examining reports that a substance was sprayed in a ground-floor room to eradicate bed bugs, with the poison potentially spreading to the family’s first-floor room through a ventilation system.
The tragedy unfolded over several days. The two children died on Thursday, followed by their mother on Friday. The father, who was being treated in intensive care, succumbed to his illness on Monday, bringing the total number of fatalities to four.
Authorities have taken significant action, detaining eleven individuals connected to the case. The hotel was evacuated over the weekend after other guests reported similar symptoms and has since been sealed off by order of the prosecutors.
The forensic report stated that a definitive conclusion will be reached after further toxicological analysis is completed on samples taken from the victims and the chemical substances used in the hotel.
A spokesman for the German embassy in Ankara confirmed that the two children were German citizens.
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