Najaf Authorities Shut Down Restaurant Following Mass Food Poisoning Incident

Najaf’s Directorate for Combating Organized Crime shuttered a local restaurant on Friday after a food poisoning outbreak left 19 people hospitalized. The incident occurred after an entire family consumed meals purchased from the establishment. Acting on intelligence reports, security forces initiated legal proceedings against the business. Health inspection units and central laboratory staff have since collected food samples from the premises to determine the cause of the contamination. Local authorities confirmed that the restaurant owner has been taken into custody under a court order. The business remains closed pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation. Victims of the poisoning were transported to specialized medical facilities, including the Najaf Hospital for Chest Diseases and the city’s dermatology hospital. Health officials are currently monitoring the condition of those affected as laboratory testing continues.