65 police officers hospitalized on suspicion of food poisoning after Erdoğan’s rally

AFYONKARAHİSAR

Some 65 police officers on duty were hospitalized on March 15 on suspicion of food poisoning following a meeting by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the inner Aegean province of Afyonkarahisar, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

The president was in Afyonkarahisar for an opening ceremony and a retinue of police officers was responsible for security measures during his speech.

However, 65 police officers felt faint shortly after the ceremony ended with complaints of stomach aches, dizziness and vomiting.

The police officers were subsequently taken under treatment at the Afyonkarahisar State Hospital, Private Park Hospital and the Kocatepe University Hospital on suspicion of food poisoning from the meal packet that included roasted meat.

They have been reported to be in stable condition.

Meanwhile, Afyonkarahisar police chief Fahrettin Şen also visited the police officers and was informed about their condition.

In addition, an examination into the incident is continuing.

A similar situation occurred in early March when 17 police officers responsible for the security of Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım experienced food poisoning after eating in the Aegean province of İzmir.

The police officers had been poisoned by a meal of chicken, meat and potatoes in their packet.

The provincial Food, Agriculture and Livestock Directorate also opened an investigation into the situation.