Group attacks Starbucks store in Turkey with rocks over alleged Israel support

A group of Turkish men on Nov. 12 attacked a Starbucks store in Istanbul province with rocks and broke the store windows, claiming the company supports Israel during its continuous attacks on the Gaza Strip. None of the customers present during the attack were injured.

Sunday November 12 2023 10:21 pm

Duvar English

Several Turkish men on Nov. 11 attacked a Starbucks store with rocks in Istanbul’s Esenyurt district over the company's alleged support to Israel during its attack on the Gaza Strip. The group broke the store windows but no customers were injured, according to reporting by the Demirören News Agency (DHA).

The attack occurred around 10 p.m. as the store was still open and crowded with customers. No one was injured, however, the attack incited panic in the store. The attackers fled the scene.

On the other hand, another group came to a Starbucks store in Kocaeli's İzmit district on Nov. 12, and threw the drinks of the people while criticizing their purchase from the coffee chain.

Kocaeli’de bir grup, Starbucks’ta oturan gençlerin içeceklerini izinsiz alıp, zorla masalarından kaldırdı.pic.twitter.com/vRRtJV7hi4
— Solcu Gazete (@solcugazete) November 12, 2023

Starbucks stores in Turkey have been subject to multiple boycott protests along with other U.S.-based businesses for their alleged support of Israel. The ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) youth branch on Oct. 27 staged sit-in protests in various Starbucks locations around Turkey.

Starbucks’ Middle Eastern operations including Turkey are owned by the Kuwait-based Alshaya Group.

Other attacks have occurred in Istanbul branches of other U.S.-based businesses like McDonald’s and Burger King restaurants. The U.S. Embassy in Turkey on Nov. 8 issued a safety warning to its citizens about such attacks.

Topics Starbucks attack Israel boycott Israel-Palestine