Investigation into the sensational death of a mother in Hamburg and her two children during their holiday in Istanbul ran in several directions. Authorities have so far assumed that food poisoning was the cause. However, recently, the family-owned hotel was also in the spotlight after two other tourists were taken to hospital due to symptoms of poisoning.
Authorities evacuated the hotel in the Fatih district on Saturday evening and sealed the building, according to state news agency Anadolu. The guests were removed. No increase in food poisoning cases was detected in Istanbul, according to official data on Friday.
Eight suspects were arrested
According to media reports, eight suspects have now been arrested: four street food sellers on Friday, three more suspects on Saturday, including a person in charge of the hotel, and most recently a baker from the hotel area. They are scheduled to be brought before a judge on Monday. It was unclear whether the arrests were related. Authorities initially had no comment.
Father, mother, six-year-old son and three-year-old daughter traveled to Istanbul a week ago. That happened on Wednesday Family According to Anadolu, he was hospitalized with suspected food poisoning due to nausea and vomiting and was discharged.
The father from Hamburg is still in intensive care
After his condition worsened, the entire family was taken to the hospital again that night. Both children died soon afterward, followed by their mother on Friday. The father remains in the intensive care unit – no new information is known about his condition.
The deceased woman’s father told Anadolu Agency that he hoped to receive good news about his son-in-law. His family comes to Türkiye every year for vacation. This summer they renovated and furnished the attic in the family apartment in their hometown of Boldavin: “They are planning to move here. This is the dream.”
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251117-930-301305/1
