Six people in Istanbul, including hotel employees and pest control specialists, have gone on trial following the deaths of a German family of four, allegedly poisoned by insecticide used at a hotel in the city’s Fatih district, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency.
The Bocek family began feeling unwell on November 12, 2025, with symptoms including nausea and vomiting. After an initial hospital visit, they returned to the Harbour Suites Old City Hotel, but their condition deteriorated the following day.
They were rushed back to the hospital by ambulance, where the two children, Kadir and Masal, aged six and three, died shortly after arrival. Their mother, Cigdem, died two days later, followed by their father, Servet Bocek, on November 17. The family had been staying at the Harbour Suites Old City hotel.
According to an indictment presented to the Istanbul High Criminal Court, a critical delay occurred when emergency responders first arrived at the scene.
The receptionist on duty, Muhammad Moeen, is said to have been disturbed by a strong chemical smell from the treated room and allegedly left his post, locking the hotel’s main entrance.
With the building secured, emergency teams were unable to enter immediately. AP News reported that footage showed Servet Bocek carrying his young daughter into the lobby and attempting to break a glass door in a desperate effort to get outside. The entrance reportedly remained locked for seven minutes before the receptionist returned.
Investigators later found traces of phosphine gas on items recovered from the hotel, including towels, face masks and medical swabs. Phosphine is a highly toxic chemical that can cause severe respiratory failure and organ damage when inhaled, which prosecutors say contributed to the rapid decline in the family’s condition.
Prosecutors argue that the delay in response, combined with improper chemical use and inadequate emergency procedures, directly contributed to the fatalities. Three other guests at the hotel were also affected by the exposure but recovered after receiving treatment.
The case has triggered widespread discussion online about hotel safety standards and enforcement in Turkey.
On Instagram, Marcelle Michaleff wrote, “So sad,a whole game dying that way.”
Another user, Emrearsan, wrote, “The hotel is shut down permanently.”