An investigation has been launched after a pro-Palestinian activist released a box of mice into a McDonalds restaurant in Birmingham.
Four branches of the fast food chain have been targeted in recent days, with mice set free in a second restaurant and stick insects released in another in Keighley.
Windows were also smashed with hammers by a group of hooded men, while a group threw mice towards staff at another site in Small Heath.
A video of one incident that was posted on social media shows a man with a Palestinian flag wrapped around his head carrying a box full of the rodents into the fast food restaurant in Star City onto the floor.
The mice were painted in the colours of the Palestinian flag— (TikTok)
The camera shows him calmly passing a group of children before releasing the mice, painted black, red and green, causing customers inside to jump back in panic.
While walking away, shouts of Free f****** Palestine” and “F*** Israel” can be heard, while a note flashes up calling for boycotts of McDonalds, Disney and Starbucks for supporting Israel.
At the end of the video, a recording of a phone call is also played as one man is heard boasting: “All the alarms are going off” and that “the doors are closed”.
A second voice adds: “Successful mission”.
Have you been affected or know who is behind these attacks? Email holly.evans@independent.co.uk
As well as painting the rodents, fake number plates that read “PAIISTN” and “Free Palestine” can be seen on the vehicle.
Customers can be seen jumping back in shock after the box of rodents were released on the floor— (TikTok)
A spokesperson for McDonalds said the the restaurant had been “fully sanitised” and that pest control partners had been called out to conduct “a full inspection”.
Another box of mice was released in a second McDonalds on 31 October, with staff seen containing the rodents in a plastic box.
An apparent bystander filmed the chaos, claiming somebody had “dropped off” the creatures at the restaurant in protest over the bombing of Gaza.
McDonald’s has become a target for protesters after an Israel franchise of the company said on its social media accounts that it had given thousands of meals to IDF soldiers.
A second McDonald’s was targeted with staff trying to contain the mice in a plastic box— (TikTok)
The US burger giant’s franchises in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Turkey issued statements disassociating themselves from the Israeli franchise, which is owned by Alonyal Ltd.
“In regard to the news that McDonald’s in Israel was donating meals. We affirm that it was an individual decision on their part,” McDonald’s franchise in Saudi Arabia said in a statement. “Neither global McDonald’s nor us nor any other country had a role or relationship with that decision, neither directly nor indirectly.”
Following the attack on the McDonalds in Yorkshire, Keighley and Ilkley’s MP, Robbie Moore tweeted: “I am sickened by last nights acts of vandalism and intimidation which were carried out in our community.
“The smashing of windows at Keighley’s Starbucks and McDonalds and the vile attempts to intimidate staff and customers were pathetic, cowardly and disgraceful acts.
“Scaring & intimidating people, pick-axing windows, deliberately choosing to negatively impact local residents, employees, and customers - who have nothing to do with the situation in Gaza - will do nothing to solve the situation in the Middle East.
“These acts are completely counterproductive - and an insult to all calling for peace in the Middle East.
“We cannot let the situation abroad destabilise community relations here. I absolutely condemn all who carry out any criminal acts or choose to use such threatening behaviour.”
In a statement, West Midlands Police said: “We’re investigating after live rodents were thrown into a restaurant off Watson Road, Nechells, at around 5.30pm yesterday (30 October).
“We understand the distress this will have caused and it’s not acceptable in any circumstances.
“This is currently being treated as a public nuisance offence and we’ve active lines of enquiries to identify, and then arrest, who was involved.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact us via Live Chat on our website, or by calling 101, and quote log 3847 of 30/10/23.”
