A family believed to have perished from food poisoning during a visit to Turkey were likely victims of a chemical substance in their hotel, ...
A family believed to have perished from food poisoning during a visit to Turkey were likely victims of a chemical substance in their hotel, according to investigators.
A family of four fell severely ill at their hotel in Istanbul last Wednesday, only two days after arriving from Hamburg,Germany.
It was originally believed that the family perished due to a severe case of food poisoning after they had traveled to the Besiktas district in the northeastern part of the city on November 12 to try local cuisine.
However, a preliminary report from the Turkish forensic institute has indicated that the deaths of father Servet, 38, mother Cigdem Bocek, 27, and their two children, Masal, aged three, and Kadir, six, were most likely due to chemical poisoning at the hotel, according to state broadcaster TRT, which cited the non-final document.
The forensic laboratory is investigating claims of poisoning caused by chemicals used for pest control in a Turkish hotel, with samples currently being tested, as reported by the news channel.
The possibility of food poisoning as the cause of death has not been entirely dismissed, but it is now seen as unlikely as the inquiry is being concluded.
A German family was taken to the hospital on November 12 after they went out to try the well-known street food midye — a dish consisting of stuffed mussels accompanied by lemon.
Later, they placed an order for a variety of dishes at a nearby eatery, such as kokorec, which is prepared from calf intestines, and tavuk tantuni, a kind of chicken wrap.
The family indulged in Turkish delights purchased from a store located in the Fatih district prior to heading back to their hotel.
However, shortly thereafter, the children started experiencing severe nausea and vomiting.
Bocek and Servet hurried them to the hospital as they started experiencing the same symptoms.
The taxi driver who transported them to the hospital has later stated that when he started driving the family towards the medical center, they appeared 'in a state of alarm'.
I attempted to speak with the father. When I inquired about the situation, he responded: 'We consumed and drank something, and it likely had an effect on us.' He then requested: 'Please, take us to the nearest hospital.'
He mentioned that the young girl had been vomiting nonstop, and that the mother seemed 'semi-conscious' throughout the journey.
Unfortunately, the two children passed away on Wednesday, Bocek died on Friday, and Servet succumbed on Monday after falling ill.
The children's grandfather has requested explanations and asked if others have become unwell.
Two more visitors who were staying at the same hotel as the family were admitted to the hospital on Saturday following reports of nausea and vomiting, as stated by BirGun newspaper.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Monday: 'The inquiry is being conducted thoroughly. It will become clear what led to the fatalities.'
After further investigations, 11 individuals have been detained, and as reported by the Anadolu news agency, arrest warrants were issued for four of them on Monday night.
These featured sweet vendors, a seller of stuffed mussels, a kokorec vendor, and a café owner.
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