The BBC has condemned footage of one of its journalists being aggressively harassed and chased by anti-lockdown protesters in London.
A video clip shared widely on social media showed multiple demonstrators shouting abuse in the face of Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt near Downing Street on Monday.
Mr Watt, who was wearing a BBC lanyard, was forced to run through the mob beyond a line of police officers as people shouted “traitor” and other slurs at him.
READ MORE:
Crowds had gathered in protest after Boris Johnson announced an extension to the coronavirus lockdown in England by four weeks to July 19.
In response to the video, the BBC said in a statement: “This behaviour is completely unacceptable.
“All journalists should be able to carry out their work without intimidation or impediment.”
Fellow BBC journalist Allie Hodgkins-Brown tweeted: “This is awful. In Central London 2021.
“Disagree with us fine. Switch us off fine but no journalist deserves this.”
The i paper journalist Vicky Spratt tweeted: "The abuse thrown at Nick Watt in that video is abhorrent.
"Sadly, I know many journalists are being targeted more & more by trolls and conspiracy theorists. Thankfully, it's usually online but this video shows that it can and does spill over into the offline world too...."
A number of other journalists showed solidarity with Mr Watt on Twitter.
Jo Stevens, Labour’s shadow culture secretary, said: “This extremely disturbing footage showing clear intimidation of a journalist while carrying out his job is absolutely unacceptable and should be condemned in the strongest terms.
“It is shocking that a BBC lanyard makes someone a target like this.”
The Metropolitan Police has been contacted for further information.
