24 detained in food poisoning case at Turkish military barracks

The number of detainees involved in a food poisoning case at a military barracks in the western province of Manisa has increased from 21 to 24, the local governor told private broadcaster CNN Türk on June 19.

Some 17 soldiers were still being treated in hospitals but none had a life threatening condition, Manisa Governor Mustafa Hakan Günveçer said. "The health situations of all of them are pretty good. They will most likely be discharged from hospital," he said.

A total of 731 soldiers were hospitalized late on June 17 after being affected by food poisoning at the Manisa First Infantry Training Brigade Command, a prosecutor said on June 18. Police later have detained 21 employees of the catering company, including executives, providing food services at the military barracks. Officials later announced that the contract of the catering firm had been cancelled following the incident. 

This is the second such incident after more than 1,000 soldiers were affected by a similar infection at the same military barracks on May 23, resulting in the death of one soldier. But, the Manisa Governor on June 19 said the last food poisoning incident was not related to the previous case. 

"The two incidents have some things in common, but this is not the continuation of the infection on May 23. All of the inquiries after May 23 were undertaken and reported, but unfortunately we experienced the May 16, 17 and 18 incidents," Günveçer told CNN Türk. 

Meanwhile, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Manisa lawmaker Tur Yıldız Biçer claimed that authorities launched disciplinary actions against infected soldiers who reacted against the incident. Saying that the hospitals were not handing the analysis results to prevent them from filing...