ANGER erupted today after the BBC described the Belgium shooting as a “terror attack” – despite refusing to do the same for Hamas’ brutal slaughtering spree.
The publicly-funded Corporation has faced fury since the bloody invasion of Israel for not directly labelling the group as “terrorists”.
The BBC called the Brussels shootings a terror attack, despite not doing the same for Hamas’ slaughtering spree on Israel
EPAIsraeli soldiers aboard a tank at an area near the border with Lebanon[/caption]
The BBC headline was later changed on its website
Bosses have come under further pressure after a headline referred to last night’s double-killing in Brussels as a “terror attack” shortly after reports first emerged.
They were this morning accused of “double standards” after insisting the BBC does not call people “terrorists” in line with its rules so viewers can make up their own minds.
It has only been using the term by attributing it to someone else, such as the British government.
The BBC says that Belgian prosecutors have declared the capital shooting as a “terror attack”, but the standalone phrase was initially used by the Corporation in a headline without quotes or attribution.
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This morning it appeared that headline had now been changed.
A BBC spokesperson said: “This was a mistake – the headline should have attributed the words, so it was swiftly changed.”
But Tory MP Brendan Clarke-Smith told The Sun: “The latest murder of innocent civilians shows the threat posed to us all by terrorism.
“To call it anything else is simply making excuses for this evil and it is quite remarkable to see the double standards and mealy-mouthed being peddled regarding editorial guidelines at the BBC.
“It’s no wonder those supporting Israelis and our Jewish communities protested outside there yesterday when they are employing such double standards.”
Former No10 chief of staff Nick Timothy said: “I thought Jews Don’t Count was a critique, not the title of the BBC style guide.”
In key developments
Iran threatened to take “preemptive action” against Israel in the coming hoursUS President Joe Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday for a show of supportTwo British sisters are among the missing following Hamas’ attack on IsraelSix Brits have been killed and a further 10 are missing, the PM saidDocuments reveal the maze of Hamas tunnels Israeli soldiers face when they storm GazaNo10 urged the FA to light up Wembley in support of Israel
Rishi Sunak heaped pressure on the BBC to label baby-slaughtering Hamas terrorists last night.
As protesters gathered outside BBC Broadcasting House in central London to urge the broadcaster to use the word, the PM’s spokesman said “the term terrorist is an accurate legal description”
Many waved Israeli flags while others held placards with pictures of Israeli children kidnapped by Hamas.
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One placard said “BBC if the King can call Hamas terrorists so can you” while another said “BBC! Hamas are terrorists, not militants!”
No10 said: “There is no restriction on the BBC using that term, certainly not from Ofcom who have made it clear that, as long as they meet Ofcom rules on accuracy in news and due impartiality in news, it is for broadcasters to think about very carefully what they use to describe unfolding events.”
After hundreds of viewer complaints, the Beeb insisted last night that they “along with many other UK and global news organisations, does use the word ‘terrorist’, but attributes it.
“We have made clear to our audiences that Hamas is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK and other governments.”
At the time the BBC also described the 9/11 attacks and Bataclan shooting acts of “terror”.
It comes as FA chiefs have been warned they have “much more to do” in paying their respect to the victims of Hamas’ barbaric attack on Israel.
Football chiefs came in for major criticism for not lighting up the Wembley arch for last Friday’s game against Australia.
Downing Street indicated that the FA could be doing more as England prepare for their game against Italy tomorrow night.
When asked whether Wembley should use the game to light the stadium up in white and blue, a No 10 spokesman said: “As you say, they have managed to show support in those circumstances.
Israeli military on the move near the border with Lebanon Credit: Getty Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
