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Starbucks is firebombed 'in protest against Israel'
Justin Davenport, Crime Correspondent13.01.09
A BRANCH of Starbucks in London has been attacked and firebombed in a suspected anti-Israeli protest.
Detectives are investigating two attacks on the café in Whitechapel Road. Bricks and "rocks" were thrown at a glass window at 11.25pm yesterday.
Then, after midnight, a flammable liquid - which police suspect was a makeshift firebomb - was hurled into the premises, damaging furniture.
No one was injured and the café was boarded up today as police forensic science officers examined the scene.
Scotland Yard said one line of inquiry was that it was "racially motivated" following Israel's invasion of Gaza. The US company's chief executive Howard Schultz is Jewish and it has been targeted for its pro-Israeli stance.
A branch of the chain in Kensington High Street was ransacked during recent protests although police do not know if it was deliberately targeted.
The incident comes as prominent British Jews have been advised to review their security after several were identified on Islamist websites as "financial supporters of Israel".
Scotland Yard is increasingly concerned about the possibility of "reprisal" attacks on Jewish people and buildings. Anti-Semitic incidents have increased in recent weeks with a synagogue firebombed in north London and anti-Israeli graffiti appearing in many Jewish areas.
In another incident, a group of 15 to 20 young men who appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent ran along a street in Golders Green shouting anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli slogans.
Starbucks confirmed the attack in a statement today, saying: "None of our partners [employees] or customers were affected. The store is currently closed and we are fully co-operating with the local authorities as they carry out investigations at the premises."
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Tower Hamlets police are investigating two allegations of criminal damage and arson at a premises in Whitechapel."
Reader views (7)
The early responses to this, show that some posters on here think the attacks where justified.
Which shows why this country I love, that my grandfather faught for is basically screwed.
- Derek, Gateshead
Actually Gordon, Howard Schultz is a staunch supporter of Israel and furthermore, he makes no secret of it. To say that Starbucks is being targetted because he is Jewish is quite simply not true. Starbucks has been a target of those who want justice for the Palestinians for years now, this is nothing new.
- Mary Allen, Enfield
Simons Mum
"Condemnation without investigation is the height of ignorance."
Albert Einstein
- Blag, Malvern
Simons Mum: - apart from the thousands of Muslims who died fighting the Nazi's/Imperial Japan for the British empire, and the Albanian Muslims who thought it was their religious duty to protect the jews from the Nazis, that is.
- Olive Oil, london, uk
starbucks doesnt not support israels attck on Gaza just because Howard Schultz is Jewish doesn't mean he is or against the war over there. "Scotland Yard said one line of inquiry was that it was "racially motivated" following Israel's invasion of Gaza. The US company's chief executive Howard Schultz is Jewish and it has been targeted for its pro-Israeli stance." This is complete rubbish...your putting peoples lives at risk for printing incorrect reports. This all started from a chain email.
- Gordon, london
A nationwide campaign to boycott Israeli products and companies that support it is the way forward - random acts of violence will not help the situation.
- Arabella, London
We know that moslems supported the nazis in WW11 and attacked jews in any area that the nazis conquered. We are now seeing the same behaviour in England. It is time to jail those responsible.
- Simons Mum, London England
