MP 'sickened' by Keighley McDonald's insect protest

The McDonald's in Hard Ings Road, Keighley, was targeted on Tuesday night

An MP has condemned an attack on a McDonald's restaurant where insects were thrown into the kitchen.

Social media footage shows at least two people draped in Palestinian flags appearing to empty trays of insects at the outlet in Keighley, West Yorkshire.

Robbie Moore said he felt "sickened" by the incident and a separate attack on a Starbucks in Bingley Street.

West Yorkshire Police said a man in his 20s had been arrested by officers investigating the incidents.

Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Moore, the Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley, said: "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."

He added that such events "will do nothing to solve the situation in the Middle East".

After Hamas gunmen launched an assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip on 7 October, a branch of the restaurant chain in Israel reportedly donated 100,000 free meals including to soldiers and security forces.

The move sparked calls from pro-Palestinian activists to boycott the brand, the Daily Express reported.

A spokesperson for McDonald's said it had carried out a deep clean following the incident in Keighley on Tuesday and that the branch had reopened on Wednesday.

They went on to say "[We are] dismayed by the disinformation and inaccurate reports regarding our position in response to the conflict in the Middle East", before adding: "McDonald's Corporation is not funding or supporting any governments involved in this conflict."

In a similar attack in Birmingham, live mice were released in three of its restaurants.

Ch Insp Paul Wood, of Bradford District Police, said: "These incidents are understandably distressing to those locally, but thankfully no one was injured.

"Enhanced high visibility patrols are being deployed in the Keighley and wider Bradford area to provide reassurance to the community."