Anti-vax assault on BBC: Police battle to defend broadcaster’s west London studios as dozens of activists protesting vaccine passports and jabs for children try to storm building
- Protesters opposing vaccine passports and child vaccinations, descend on BBC
- Video shows group clashing with police outside the BBC’s White City Studios
- Footage shows a small number of police holding protesters back from the doors
- Officers are quickly reinforced and are later seen pushing back the protesters
Dozens of anti-vaccine protesters have today been filmed attempting to storm the BBC’s London studios during a rally in the capital.
The protesters have been filmed clashing with police outside the broadcaster’s site in White City, west London.
Video shows officers attempting to push back protesters in a bid desperate bid to stop the group getting inside the centre.
Footage shows a small number of police seemingly overwhelmed at first, before reinforcements quickly arrive.
Officers armed with batons are later seen pushing back protesters from the centre’s front door.
It is believed the protesters are opposing the Government’s vaccine passports and vaccination of children.
Dozens of anti-vaccine protesters have today been filmed attempting to storm the BBC ‘s London studios during a rally in the capital
The protesters have been filmed clashing with police outside the broadcaster’s site in White City, west London
Video shows officers with batons linking arms in a bid to stop the protesters getting inside the centre
Paul Brown, who uploaded the footage to Twitter, said: ‘Official Voice protesters try storming the BBC studios at White City but them come up against a heavy police presence.
‘They are protesting against vaccine passports and vaccine for kids.’
The Met Police said this afternoon: ‘We’re aware of a group of demonstrators who, having set off from Shepherds Bush Green at around 1pm, are now gathered outside a commercial premises in Wood Lane, White City.
‘There have been no arrests but officers are in attendance and will continue to monitor the situation.’
It comes just months after it was revealed the BBC had upgraded its security protocols after a spate of death threats towards staff.
Newsnight’s political editor, Nicholas Watt, was also chased and harangued by demonstrators outside Downing Street in June by anti-lockdown protesters.
Fran Unsworth, the BBC’s director of news and current affairs, said in June that abuse of journalists was a ‘growing problem’.
In a letter, seen by the Observer, Ms Unsworth urged staff to complete a training course on how to ‘react to an in person attack’.
Today’s incident took place outside the BBC’s former home at White City. Formerly known as BBC Media Village, the site is now named White City Place.
The Met Police said this afternoon: ‘We’re aware of a group of demonstrators who, having set off from Shepherds Bush Green at around 1pm, are now gathered outside a commercial premises in Wood Lane, White City
‘There have been no arrests but officers are in attendance and will continue to monitor the situation,’ A Met Police spokesperson said
Much of the area is now flats or commercial buildings, though the BBC does still operate out of White City.
It comes as it was today revealed how Covid vaccine hesitancy rates have nearly halved among younger people.
Just one in 20 Brits aged 18 to 21 claimed they were unlikely to get a jab last month, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics.
This compares to nearly one in 10 (nine per cent) who admitted they were hesitant when asked one month earlier.
And overall, there were drop in hesitancy among all under-25s in July compared to levels in June.
The findings, based on polling of 15,000 adults, are from before ministers unveiled plans to lure twenty-somethings into vaccine centres with the promise of cut-price taxis and takeaways.
It suggests the rate may be even lower now, given the incentives were designed to drive take-up among 18 to 30 year olds.
Separate ONS statistics showed hesitancy rates were five times higher among black adults, compared to white people.
And the figures also revealed 89 per cent of 16 and 17 year olds — who are now able to get vaccinated — want a jab.
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