Family of Four Dies from Suspected Poisoning in Istanbul Hotel

Istanbul, Turkey — Turkish police are investigating the deaths of a family of four from Germany, who died from suspected poisoning after a vacation in Istanbul. The Böcek family, visiting from Hamburg, fell ill on November 12 after consuming street food during their stay.

The family initially sought treatment for food poisoning but was discharged from the hospital. They returned on November 13 with worsening symptoms. Tragically, the two children, Kadir, 6, and Masal, 3, died on Thursday. Their mother, Cigdem, 27, followed a day later, with their father, Servet, 38, remaining in critical condition until he died on Monday.

Authorities began investigating food poisoning as the cause of death, focusing on the street food vendors in the Ortaköy area where the family had eaten. However, the case took a turn when two more tourists from the same hotel fell ill, prompting investigators to consider pesticide exposure as a potential cause. Reports indicate that a pesticide used for bedbug extermination may have entered the family’s hotel room via the ventilation system.

The hotel, located in Istanbul’s historic Fatih district, has been closed by the municipality while forensic teams gather evidence, including samples from bedsheets and water bottles. A preliminary report suggested the family likely succumbed to chemical poisoning from their hotel environment rather than food poisoning.

As investigations continue, Turkish police have detained eleven suspects, including food vendors and hotel staff. Seven of those detained have been taken to the Istanbul courthouse for proceedings. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged that authorities would thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the family’s deaths.

The Böcek family has been buried in their ancestral town of Bolvadin, Turkey. At a recent mourning ceremony, Cigdem’s father, Mehmet Celik, expressed his grief, stating they died without ever being able to move into their newly renovated summer house.