Aysu Bicer
14 October 2023•Update: 14 October 2023
LONDON
The BBC headquarters was marred by red paint on Saturday morning amid massive pro-Palestine protests in London.
BBC host Victoria Derbyshire posted a video of the building's exterior this morning, along with the caption: "Arriving at the BBC for work, and this is what the front entrance looks like today."
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, with red paint was splashed across the facade of the building, leaving the iconic BBC logo and entrance covered in red.
The Palestine Action said on X that it left a message overnight for the BBC, saying, "Spreading the occupation's lies and manufacturing consent for Israel's war crimes means that you have Palestinian blood on your hands #ShutBBCDown."
The protest is seen as a reaction to the BBC's ongoing reporting on the Israel-Palestine conflict and the BBC has faced criticism from some viewers who believe its coverage is not sufficiently balanced.
Metal barriers were set up to cordon off the piazza, while yellow signs indicating ongoing cleaning were placed around the area.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police issued a warning Friday to participants of a pro-Palestinian demonstration in central London on Saturday not to deviate from the route.
Police announced via X that a notice has been authorized, granting police the authority to take action against any individuals who deviate from the designated route.
"Any person participating in or associated with the 'Palestine Solidarity Campaign' protest must not deviate from the route below or they may be subject to arrest."
More than 1,000 police officers were deployed to ensure safety and orderly conduct during the demonstration.
UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman issued a warning to police chiefs Tuesday regarding the display of Palestinian flags on British streets.
She suggested that waving the flag "may not be legitimate" if it is seen as a show of support for terrorism.
Braverman said although there are valid reasons for expressing solidarity with Palestinians, certain actions go beyond the boundaries set by the Terrorism Act and the Public Order Act.
She provided examples of protest actions which she believes could potentially constitute public order offenses, including targeting Jewish neighborhoods, waving pro-Palestinian or pro-Hamas symbols, and chanting slogans that could be interpreted as anti-Israeli.
