Turkish court orders house arrest for four suspects in Grand Kartal Hotel fire case

A Turkish court has ruled to place four suspects under house arrest in connection with the January fire at the Grand Kartal ski resort in Bolu, Türkiye.

The individuals placed under house arrest include Ibrahim Polat, owner of Mudurnu Inc., Ismail Karagez, a representative of the organisation, secretary Yigitkan Burak Cetin, and Ali Agaoglu, owner of the inspection company FQC, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media. 

The investigation initially involved 32 suspects. However, the court rejected a request to arrest Adnan Karadayi, the administrator who is also a plaintiff in the case.

The fire, which occurred on January 21, caused injuries to dozens of people. At the time, 238 guests, including families with children, were staying in the 12-story hotel.

On January 21, 2025, a devastating fire engulfed the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort, Bolu Province, Türkiye, resulting in the deaths of at least 78 people and injuries to 51 others. The blaze began in the hotel's fourth-floor kitchen and restaurant area and rapidly spread through the 12-story building, exacerbated by its wooden exterior cladding. The hotel was nearly full, hosting approximately 238 guests, including many families with children on school vacations. Some individuals attempted to escape by jumping out of windows in desperation.

By Khagan Isayev