A KFC restaurant in Pakistan has been razed to the ground by rioters, with the violence spilling out onto the surrounding streets and police reportedly firing tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Dramatic images circulating on social media show the windows of the branch in Mirpur, Kashmir, smashed and riddled with holes amid unconfirmed reports of gunfire during the mayhem.
Separate video shows the fast food restaurant engulfed in flames and chaos as people run out onto the street to escape the fire, with rioters reportedly yelling ‘we burned KFC!’
A British father-of-three who is on holiday in the city said he had been walking to get food with his family when he witnessed the protests unfold.
The Londoner, who did not wish to be named, described the scenes as ‘very aggressive and frightening’ and said ‘police have been fairly useless’ due to the large numbers of people involved.
The motive behind the riots is unclear, but the British tourist told MailOnline that they were sparked by anger over the fried chicken restaurant chain’s links to Israel amid the war in Gaza.
Dramatic pictures circulating on social media show the smashed windows of the branch in Mirpur, Kashmir
Pictures appear to show bullet holes in the windows of the popular branch of the chicken restaurant
Videos circulating online showed the KFC branch engulfed in flames with people running from the scene
There have been unconfirmed reports of gunfire at the scene, while some online suggested rocks were thrown at the windows of the restaurant
Pictures shared on social media show how the restaurant, which is a popular fast food destination in the city, was completely destroyed in the violent riots.
One photo shows a man with blood pouring from his head in an injury that appears to have been sustained in the chaos.
In one video, crowds are seen gathering in the street before loud bangs ring out, with dozens of people appearing to run to take cover.
In separate footage, dozens of people are seen dispersing on foot and on motorbikes as tear gas appears to be launched by police in the background.
The reason behind the violent scenes is not known, with suggestions that it may have been part of a local dispute as well as claims that it was in protest over the war in Gaza.
KFC’s parent company, Yum Brands, has attracted boycotts worldwide over its decision to continue trading in Israel and its investment in Israeli start-ups.
The restaurant giant, which owns KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, has faced a slump in sales in recent months amid boycotts from many pro-Palestine campaigners.
Pakistan, a Muslim-majority country, has seen calls for the boycott of a number of the company’s restaurant chains escalate in recent months as the conflict rages on.
Last month, fans in Pakistan urged a boycott of the Pakistan Super League cricket tournament because of its association with KFC, according to reports.
Large crowds were gathered in the streets nearby. A witness said police were overwhelmed by the sheer number of people
Rioters set fire to the branch and smashed its windows, dramatic footage shows
KFC’s Middle East unit reported a decline of 5 percent for the last quarter, as the chain faces anger from many in the Muslim world over its perceived support of Israel, where it continues to trade.
In an earnings call to investors last month, CEO David Gibbs reportedly said ‘top line sales were impacted by the conflict in the Middle East region, with varying degrees of impact across markets in the Middle East, Malaysia, and Indonesia.’
Starbucks has also faced accusations of support for Israel, while McDonalds faced backlash last year after it gave away thousands of free meals to Israeli forces and citizens following the Hamas October 7 attacks.
KFC has been contacted for comment.
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