Radiohead respond to reported attack at Istanbul listening event

Radiohead have spoken out after a group of fans were reportedly attacked in Istanbul, Turkey, during a listening event for the band’s new album, A Moon Shaped Pool.

“Our hearts go out to those attacked tonight at Velvet IndieGround in Istanbul,” the English rock band said in a statement, released by its reps. “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.”

Istanbul record store Velvet Indieground hosted the Radiohead listening event Friday night. Reddit user Rawkon posted a Periscope video and clipped a YouTube excerpt of the reported attack, allegedly incited because patrons were drinking alcohol during Islam’s holy month of Ramadan.

Facebook user Karl Ertunc wrote: “20 and 25 men all of a sudden started beating up the guests, some of whom had been standing inside and some outside the Velvet Indieground music store, drinking beer and other refreshments. Then the thugs entered the store kicking and punching the guests and destroying the records and the equipment.”

Another Reddit user claiming to be one of the event’s hosts 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.” The user later added that all the attendees were safe after the attack.