A German family’s holiday nightmare turned deadly in Istanbul after parents and their two young children died from suspected food poisoning. The tragedy unfolded just days after they arrived from Hamburg.
Street Food Fever Turns Fatal
On November 11, the family, including three-year-old Masal and six-year-old Kadir, sampled popular Turkish street foods in the Besiktas district. They enjoyed midye (stuffed mussels), kokorec (calf intestines), and tavuk tantuni (chicken wraps) before buying Turkish delights in the Fatih neighbourhood.
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Within hours back at their hotel, all four fell violently ill with severe nausea and vomiting.
Rapid Decline and Heartbreaking Loss
The children and their parents were rushed to the hospital twice but discharged, only to worsen later. Mother Cigdem Bocek, 27, and the children died by Wednesday. Father Servet, 38, held on until Monday before succumbing to the illness.
Authorities Swing Into Action
Istanbul’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched a full probe. Seven people, including street food vendors, have been detained as police investigate whether tainted seafood, restaurant meals, or hotel chemicals caused the poisoning.
