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Two Dutch teenagers died at an Istanbul hotel after dining in the city's Taksim district on Aug. 22, prompting authorities to detain four restaurant operators as they investigate the deaths.
Rashid Mohammed, 57, was visiting Istanbul with his sons Jamil Yusuf Mohammed, 17, and Yazdani Mohammed, 15, when the incident occurred. The family had spent the day exploring Istiklal Street after leaving their hotel in the Fatih district.
After dining in the area that evening, the family returned to their hotel to rest. The father discovered his children motionless in their room the following morning and fell ill himself while attempting to call for help.
Medical teams arriving at the hotel confirmed both teenagers had died. The father was taken to a hospital for treatment. Mohammed told medical personnel that the family had eaten in Taksim before returning to their hotel and became ill shortly afterward.
Istanbul Police launched an investigation into establishments where the family had dined. Four individuals were subsequently detained: restaurant operators B.K., E.K., and A.K., along with T.M.C., who operated a venue where the family consumed ayran, a traditional Turkish yogurt drink.
Following their transfer to the courthouse, suspect E.K. was placed under house arrest while the other three were released under judicial supervision.
The exact cause of death for both teenagers will be determined through examinations conducted by the Forensic Medicine Institute. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths continues.
The incident has raised concerns about food safety in one of Istanbul's most popular tourist areas, which attracts millions of international visitors annually to Türkiye.
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