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BBC building in 'lockdown' after protesters break in

Jessica Lawrence & Barry O'Connor
BBC News NI
BBC A group of protesters, holding Palestine flags and wearing Keffiyehs, are leaving through large green iron gates accessing a car park near Blackstaff House. There are two police officers on the left of the image, but their faces are blurred.BBC
About 20 protesters were escorted out of the premises by police

A BBC building in Belfast city centre was placed into lockdown for a short time after a group of protesters made their way onto the premises on Tuesday morning.

It is understood that up to 20 people, wearing Palestinian flags and chanting "Free Palestine", gained access into a studio at Blackstaff House on Great Victoria Street at about 11:00 BST.

Six Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) vehicles attended the event, and officers later removed the protesters.

The BBC said it takes "the safety and security of BBC staff and buildings extremely seriously".

Police said no damage was caused, and the group moved their demonstration outside after officers spoke to them.

A group of people, with one carrying a Palestine flag, are led out of Blackstaff House by some police officers. The protestors are wearing Keffiyehs over their head. In the background is a large grey building with the BBC logo on it.
A group of pro-Palestinian supporters were removed from Blackstaff House on Tuesday morning

A BBC staff member, who witnessed the incident, said the protesters approached security staff posing as tourists.

They asked to visit the building, but were refused entry.

However, as a staff member was leaving, they rushed through a pedestrian gate.

It is thought they got into a studio through a fire door.

A BBC spokesperson said: "We take the safety and security of BBC staff and buildings extremely seriously. Unauthorised access is wrong and can create risks for everyone involved."

BBC should 'do their job'

Damian Quinn, who took part in Tuesday's demonstration, criticised the BBC's coverage of the Israel-Gaza war, adding that the corporation was "sitting silently" as destruction continued in Gaza.

Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people - mainly civilians - and took 251 back to Gaza as hostages.

In response, Israel launched a massive offensive which has killed 51,240 Palestinians, many of whom were civilians, according to the latest Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry figures.

Mr Quinn said the BBC were "manufacturing consent for genocide" by using words such as reportedly and putting quotation marks in its reporting.

"When you look at BBC, you think that nothing's really happening," he told BBC News NI.

"They are not showing the graphic and the horror of what's truly happening in Gaza.

He said that protesters were asking the BBC to "do their job".

"We didn't want to be in there today, but we can't sit silently when BBC is sitting silently, so we have to do the job of the BBC," Mr Quinn added.

"If the BBC does not change, then we can't be liable for it. We can't continue paying them and using our money to consent to genocide."

Damian and Jake are being interviewed as they stand outside the iron fence of Belfast City Hall. Damien, on the left, has short, dark hair and is wearing a black jersey with red and teal stripes, as well as a blue faux Press best. On the right, Jake is wearing a striped Columbia fleece with light blue, teal, tan, yellow and orange stripes, as well as dark sunglasses and a green hat.
Damian and Jake, who took part in the demonstration, say the BBC are "complicit"

Jake, who did not give his last name, said Tuesday's action is the first in what he described as "civil disobedience".

Earlier on Tuesday, activists also gained access to Irish public broadcaster RTÉ's reception in Dublin to stage a protest.

Jake said the protests were "about showing people all around the world that with small groups of organised collective groups of people, you can occupy complicit institutions".