Additional Tourists Hospitalized for Suspected Poisoning in Istanbul Hotel

Following the recent deaths of a mother and her two children from Hamburg during their stay in Istanbul, two more tourists have been admitted to hospital with symptoms of poisoning. According to local media reports, these individuals, identified as coming from Italy and Morocco, were also guests at the same hotel in the Fatih district as the affected German family.

The two tourists reported nausea and vomiting but are not believed to be in critical condition. Investigations by local authorities are ongoing, focusing on possible sources of contamination within the hotel. It has been noted that the establishment does not have an on-site restaurant and only provides water to its guests. In response, investigators have collected water samples and are analyzing footage from the hotel's surveillance cameras to identify any potential causes.

Authorities also discovered that a ground-floor room of the hotel had recently been disinfected with chemical agents. As a result, police detained three individuals, including a hotel manager and two people responsible for performing the disinfection, bringing the total number of arrests in connection with the incident to seven.

The father of the deceased German family remains in intensive care, while the three deceased family members have been laid to rest in the western Turkish province of Afyonkarahisar. Local officials and family members attended the funeral, and relatives have called for those responsible to be held accountable.

Preliminary investigations suggest that food poisoning remains the most likely cause of death, though authorities await comprehensive laboratory test results for confirmation. An initial autopsy did not provide significant new information. In addition, four more suspects were previously detained, all of whom are street food vendors selling items such as sweets, stuffed mussels, and a traditional dish made from veal intestines known as Kokorec. These individuals are under investigation for negligent homicide, and records indicate they have prior convictions for unrelated offenses.

The German family, comprising a father, mother, and their two young children, began their trip to Istanbul earlier in the week. Reports indicate that on the day in question, they travelled to the Ortaköy district, where they consumed stuffed mussels from a street vendor, as well as soup and Kokorec from another establishment. On their return to the hotel, they purchased Turkish delight and bottled water, and reportedly ate chicken at some point during the day.

Later, the family sought medical attention for symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The parents were diagnosed with gastroenteritis, while the children were also treated and subsequently discharged. However, their condition worsened, leading to a second hospital visit during the night, where both children and the mother passed away shortly thereafter.

The Istanbul health authorities have indicated that there has been no general increase in food poisoning cases across the city. In response to the incident, authorities have closed down one of the implicated food outlets as a precaution to protect public health and safety. Samples have been collected from all locations where the family is believed to have eaten, and the investigation continues as officials await further laboratory findings. The German Foreign Office has confirmed the nationality of the victims, and the family is reported to have Turkish roots.