Police battle to defend broadcaster's west London studios as mob of dozens of activists protesting vaccine passports and jabs for children try to storm building
- Protesters opposing vaccine passports and child vaccinations swarmed on the west London base of the BBC
- Video shows a large group clashing with police officers outside the BBC's White City Studios in west London
- Today's protest at the BBC appears to have been organised by an anti-lockdown group called Official Voice
- Ahead of the protest, the group called on supporters to descend on London and said 'media is the problem'Dozens of anti-vaccine protesters attempted to storm the BBC's west London studios this afternoon prompting violent clashes with police - with at least one making it inside.
The protest, organised by anti-lockdown group Official Voice, is believed to have been directed against vaccine passports and jabs for children.
The protesters started at Shepherds Bush Green at around 1pm before making the short journey to the BBC Studioworks site in White City.
Currently, the site is used by BBC Studioworks with ITV live programmes such as This Morning and Loose Women filmed there, as well as some live BBC shows. The BBC Worlds News is filmed nearby.
However, the main BBC News programme is filmed at Broadcasting House in Portland Place, Westminster.
The BBC sold the site to property developers Stanhope plc in 2013, and the site now mostly contains homes and entertainment and leisure facilities.
One of the ringleaders appeared to be DJ Pat Wilson, who proudly posted a picture of himself on Instagram holding up his 'demands' inside the building.
He said afterwards: 'We want to make a noise, the right noise. We will see what happens now.'
Later in a speech to the march he added: 'A group of us lot set this up, but we're not the leaders we don't want to tell you lot where to go or what to do.'
Former Coronation Street actor Sean Ward was also at the protest and posted footage from the roadside.
Loose Women presenter Charlene White took to Twitter to reveal that the protesters tried to access the site while they were on air. She wrote: 'Huge thanks to Andy and the security team over at Television Centre. The protesters attempted to gain access to the building while we were live on air with @loosewomen - and we’ve only just left, because of safety. Andy and his team were just incredible, thank-you.'
On its Instagram page, Official Voice said the 'media is the problem' and proclaimed that 'the lies will end' as it urged supporters to descend on London for today's protest from as early as July 27.
There, they were filmed clashing with police outside the building, with at least one of the protesters wearing a beret as they tussled with officers.
Video shows police attempting to push back protesters in a bid desperate bid to stop the group getting inside the centre. Initially, the police were seemingly overwhelmed before reinforcements quickly arrived, including officers with batons.
It comes as:
- The UK recorded 25,161 positive tests in a 15% weekly jump - as deaths jumped to 37, fuelling fears Britain's Covid outbreak could be speeding up once more;
- It emerged the firm behind PCR travel testing collection bin fiasco made £120m from the Covid pandemic;
- The Government caves in to civil servants over working from home as No10 slaps down minister who demanded those resisting return to Whitehall have pay cut;
- Expert warned Britain needed to stop counting Covid infections as pandemic phase slowly fizzled out or numbers will remain 'high for our lifetimes';
- Covid vaccine hesitancy rates almost halved in 18-21 year olds with 95% of young adults now willing to get jabbed.
Hoards of protesters and police trying to control the situation outside the BBC Broadcasting house in Langham Place, London
Police officers pictured outside the BBC Broadcasting house in Langham Place, central London
Piers Corbyn is pictured amongst the protestors outside the BBC Broadcasting house in central London
Protestors huddle under umbrellas outside the BBC Broadcasting house in Langham Place, central London
DJ Pat Wilson, who helped organise the march, proudly shows off the groups demands inside the building
Later he addressed the crowds and insisted he was not in charge, despite admitting he and his friends helped organise it
Dozens of anti-vaccine protesters have today been filmed attempting to storm the BBC 's London studios during a rally in the capital
The protesters have been filmed clashing with police outside the broadcaster's site in White City, west London
Video shows officers with batons linking arms in a bid to stop the protesters getting inside the centre
Loose Women star Charlene White wrote on Twitter that security had stepped in to save the day from the protesters
Paul Brown, who uploaded the footage to Twitter, said: 'Official Voice protesters try storming the BBC studios at White City but them come up against a heavy police presence.
'They are protesting against vaccine passports and vaccine for kids.'
The Met Police said this afternoon: 'We're aware of a group of demonstrators who, having set off from Shepherds Bush Green at around 1pm, are now gathered outside a commercial premises in Wood Lane, White City.
'There have been no arrests but officers are in attendance and will continue to monitor the situation.'
It comes just months after it was revealed the BBC had upgraded its security protocols after a spate of death threats towards staff.
Newsnight's political editor, Nicholas Watt, was also chased and harangued by demonstrators outside Downing Street in June by anti-lockdown protesters.
Fran Unsworth, the BBC's director of news and current affairs, said in June that abuse of journalists was a 'growing problem'.
In a letter, seen by the Observer, Ms Unsworth urged staff to complete a training course on how to 'react to an in person attack'.
Today's incident took place outside the BBC's former home at White City. Formerly known as BBC Media Village, the site is now named White City Place.
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