The deaths of three members of a Turkish-German tourist family, on holiday in Istanbul, triggered the evacuation of a hotel in the historic center on Saturday, November 15, 2025.

The investigation is now focusing on possible pesticide poisoning at the establishment, after initially suspecting food poisoning.

🛑 The family tragedy

A family of four, Turkish nationals residing in Germany, fell ill on Wednesday after eating in the Ortaköy district. Despite their hospitalization, the tragedy unfolded rapidly:

1. The two children , aged 3 and 6, died on Thursday.
2. The mother died on Friday.
3. The father was in "critical condition" Friday evening, according to regional health authorities.

🕵️‍♀️ New lead in the investigation

Initially, suspicion fell on food poisoning. The restaurant where the family dined was even sealed off for examination.

However, the hotel lead was raised when:

1. Two other tourists staying at the same hotel were hospitalized on Saturday, suffering from nausea and vomiting.
2. Investigators discovered that pesticides had recently been sprayed in a room located on the ground floor of the establishment.

🚨 Immediate consequences and arrests

In light of these discoveries, the hotel was immediately evacuated and all guests were relocated. The name of the establishment has not been released.

In total, seven people have been detained in connection with this case:

1. Four people were initially arrested as part of the investigation on suspicion of poisoning.
2. A hotel employee and two pest control workers have been arrested following the latest revelations.