BRUSSELS – Starbucks said Tuesday it was closing all 15 of its coffee outlets in Belgium “until further notice”, in the wake of the bombings in Brussels that claimed at least 34 lives and injured about 200.
One of the bombs exploded at Brussels Zaventem Airport right outside a Starbucks store, but there is no indication the coffee shop chain was specifically targeted.
The company also said one of its employees had suffered minor injuries as an explosion tore through the airport.
A few hours after the attacks the company issued the following statement:
“We are deeply saddened by the senseless acts that have taken place in Brussels today.
Amidst reports of attacks targeting Brussels Airport and a metro station, initial indications are that an explosion took place outside our store within the airport.
While one partner (employee) sustained minor injuries, we can confirm that all our partners are safe and have been accounted for. This store and all other Starbucks stores in Belgium will remain closed until further notice.
We are monitoring this situation closely, and will provide additional information as it becomes available.”
In January, Starbucks closed all of its stores in Indonesia following a terror attack at one of its stores in the country’s crowded capital of Jakarta, which injured one customer. It reopened all but the targeted outlet a day later after local authorities assured the company that it had no indication further attacks were imminent.
