A video of the incident has been condemned as “appalling and distressing”.
A video has gone viral which shows senior BBC journalist Nick Watt being shouted at and chased by anti-lockdown protesters in London.
The clip – recorded near Downing Street on Monday – shows the political editor of BBC Newsnight being swarmed by unmasked protesters shouting “traitor” and “scum” at the journalist.
One protester can be heard saying: “Why have you lied and said that lockdowns are legal?”
Watt, who was wearing a BBC lanyard, can be seen in the video being forced to turn around and run away from the protesters, some of whom chased after him, before passing through a police barrier to safety.
The footage has been condemned on social media, with many journalists and politicians coming to Watt’s defence.
UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “The video of @BBCNewsnight’s Nick Watt being abused by a mob is appalling and distressing. This behaviour is never acceptable.
“The safety of journalists is fundamental to our democracy.”
The video of @BBCNewsnight‘s Nick Watt being abused by a mob is appalling and distressing.
This behaviour is never acceptable.
— Priti Patel (@pritipatel) June 15, 2021
General Secretary for the National Union of Journalists Michelle Stanistreet called the incident “frightening and outrageous”.
She added: “No-one should have to tolerate such abusive behaviour and harassment simply for doing their job.”
Metropolitan Police Events, meanwhile, tweeted: “We are aware of a video circulating online from Monday, 14 June in Whitehall during a protest.
“This sort of behaviour is not acceptable and police are investigating the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
We are aware of a video circulating online from Monday, 14 June in Whitehall during a protest.
This sort of behaviour is not acceptable and police are investigating the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
— Metropolitan Police Events (@MetPoliceEvents) June 15, 2021
You can see the video below.
Disturbing footage of @BBCNewsnight’s Nick Watt, being pursued by anti-lockdown protesters@umairh wrote recently “Britain — the gentle, wise, intelligent, expansive one — was put to the torch. It became a nation afflicted by a fever dream of nationalism” pic.twitter.com/kdBsB4WfmY https://t.co/jBJYabO0cP
— Stefan Simanowitz (@StefSimanowitz) June 15, 2021
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