developing· Security· Updated 21:06

Israeli Businessman Found Dead in Ethiopian Restaurant; Poisoning Suspected

An Israeli businessman in his 40s was found dead on Wednesday in a restaurant restroom in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. The man, who was in the country on a business trip, had gone to the restroom and failed to return to his table, prompting colleagues to search for him and discover his body in a stall.

8 newsrooms · 3 languages · since 20:16

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Israeli Businessman Found Dead in Ethiopian Restaurant; Poisoning Suspected — Illustration by baba

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What happened

01An Israeli businessman in his 40s was found dead on Wednesday in a restaurant restroom in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
02The businessman went to the restroom while dining and was found in a stall by colleagues after failing to return.
03Investigators are exploring poisoning as a primary line of inquiry because the man was reportedly in good health.
04Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy in Addis Ababa are assisting the family with repatriation efforts.
05An autopsy is expected to be performed in Israel to determine the exact cause of death.
06The incident follows the death of another Israeli, Mulu Birehaye, who died in Ethiopia in March while awaiting evacuation.
07The death also follows the recent rescue of 45 Israeli tourists trapped by fighting in Ethiopia's Tigray region.

Local authorities are investigating the circumstances of his death, with poisoning being considered a primary line of inquiry. The suspicion of poisoning arose because the businessman was reportedly in good health prior to his death, though no official cause has been determined.

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israeli Embassy in Addis Ababa are in contact with the man's family. Diplomatic efforts are underway to repatriate his body to Israel, where an autopsy is expected to be performed to establish the exact cause of death.

The incident follows other recent events involving Israelis in Ethiopia, including the death of 51-year-old Mulu Birehaye in March while awaiting a rescue flight, and the recent evacuation of 45 Israeli tourists trapped by fighting in the Tigray region.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 8 newsrooms. Updated 21:22