Condemnation after abuse of BBC journalist by anti-lockdown protesters
Boris Johnson has condemned "disgraceful" footage of a BBC journalist being harassed and chased by anti-lockdown protesters in London.
Detectives have begun interviewing a man in his 50s while officers search for another man after footage shared on social media showed demonstrators shouting abuse in the face of Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt.
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 near Downing Street on Monday.
Crowds had gathered in
Westminster to protest against the Government's extension of coronavirus restrictions in England by four weeks.
The Prime Minister tweeted: "Disgraceful to see the hounding of Nick Watt doing his job. The media must be able to report the facts without fear or favour – they are the lifeblood of our democracy."
Home Secretary Priti Patel Patel tweeted: "The video of @Bbcnewsnight's Nick Watt being abused by a mob is appalling and distressing. This behaviour is never acceptable."
She added: "The safety of journalists is fundamental to our democracy.
"This month the government launched a consultation to better understand the nature & volume of threats and abuse against journalists who are operating in the UK."
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."