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German Family's Istanbul Holiday Ends in Fatal Poisoning
27 Nov
Summary
- Chemical poisoning, not food poisoning, killed a German family of four.
- An insecticide used for pest control was identified as the cause of death.
- Several individuals, including hotel and pest control owners, remain in custody.
Authorities in Turkey have confirmed that a German family of four succumbed to chemical poisoning during their holiday in Istanbul earlier this month. Initial theories of food poisoning were disproven by a forensic report, which identified an insecticide used for pest control as the fatal agent. The family, originally from Hamburg, fell ill in mid-November while staying at their hotel.
The investigation has led to the arrest of six people, including the hotel owner and the proprietor of the pest control company responsible for the fumigation. These individuals are currently in custody. Four other suspects have since been released, following earlier detentions of street food vendors who had served the family.
While the specific poison was not publicly disclosed by the Istanbul prosecutor's office, reports indicate the toxic gas phosphine was detected at the hotel. This gas is commonly produced when aluminum phosphide, used for pest control, reacts with moisture. Phosphine can be lethal in high concentrations, leading to severe health complications.
