C4 News is rapped for its lack of accuracy

CHANNEL 4 News committed a ‘serious breach’ of broadcasting rules after it wrongly identified the Westminster terror attacker, Ofcom said.

The watchdog found that a broadcast incorrectly referred to the same person throughout the show and has ordered Channel 4 News to air its decision.

The programme misidentified Abu Izzadeen as the person responsible for the March 22 terror attack at Westminster who had been shot dead by police. Izzadeen was in prison at the time. The real jihadi was Khalid Masood. Five people were killed in the outrage.

An Ofcom spokesman said: ‘This is the fourth time in three years we have found Channel 4 in breach of its requirement to report news with due accuracy.

‘We are particularly concerned that another serious breach has happened, given Channel 4’s previous assurances to Ofcom that improvements to its compliance processes were being made.

‘Considering the seriousness of this breach, we are requiring Channel 4 News to air a summary of our breach decision.’

A Channel 4 spokesman said: ‘We acknowledge Ofcom’s ruling. Channel 4 and ITN take this matter very seriously and we are working with Channel 4 News to review and improve their existing editorial and oversight procedures.

‘This was a fast-moving story, broadcast in the immediate aftermath of a terror attack. Channel 4 News moved swiftly to correct and clarify the facts as conflicting information came to light.’

Six viewers complained to Ofcom about the error.