Radiohead have issued a statement following a violent attack on fans at an Istanbul record store.
Ardent followers of the band had gathered at the city’s Velvet IndieGround to participate in the group’s worldwide A Moon Shaped Pool listening party.
Partway through the event, the store was set upon by a violent group. A Turkish Reddit user posted footage of the attack, and claimed attendees were targeted primarily for drinking alcohol during the Islamic celebration of Ramadan.
Heads up, the vision is pretty confronting.
Another user, who was present at the time, wrote “we were beaten by more than 20 men with pipes in their hands, beer bottles were broken on our heads, i don’t even know how we made it out.”
“for the first time in my life, i was scared of being killed. can’t even think right now, just a blank stare at the walls.”
Others have corroborated that turn of events in the same thread.
In response, the band issued the following statement through their publicist:
“Our hearts go out to those attacked tonight at Velvet IndieGround in Istanbul.We hope that someday we will be able to look back on such acts of violent intolerance as things of the ancient past.For now, we can only offer our fans in Istanbul our love and support.”
Just… bloody hell.
Source: Radiohead / Facebook / Reddit.
Photo: Jim Dyson / Getty.
Photo: Jim Dyson / Getty.
