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BBC apologises for calling hostile pro-Palestinian protest ‘a vigil’
A spokesperson told Jewish News: "We should have been clear it was a protest and we apologise for this. We will include this clarification in tonight’s programme."
The BBC has apologised after it described a hostile pro-Palestinian protest against a cinema screening of a film about the Nova music festival massacre as “a vigil”.
Dozens of anti-Israel activists gathered outside the Phoenix cinema in East Finchley on Thursday evening to loudly oppose a documentary about the murder of 350 young people on 7 October. The protesters were eventually driven away by a 1,000-strong counter-demonstration organised by the Jewish community.
BBC London News presenter Asad Ahmed later said on air that “pro-Israel protesters celebrated tonight after chasing away pro-Palestinian supporters who were holding a vigil”.
A caption shown on screen during the report read, “Israel supporters chase pro-Palestinian supporters away.” However, clips on social media from outside the cinema show the pro-Israel crowd waving placards, dancing and singing.
The corporation has now apologised. A spokesperson told Jewish News: “In a report on BBC London last night we wrongly described an incident outside a London cinema as a vigil. We should have been clear it was a protest and we apologise for this. The correct description has been used in our online report today.”
The spokesperson added: “We will include this clarification in tonight’s programme and publish on our Correction and Clarifications website.”
Former director of BBC TV Danny Cohen was among those condemning the corporation’s coverage of the protest. He said: “For the BBC to describe this pro-Palestinian protest as a “vigil” is utterly sickening. The protest aimed to disrupt and delay the screening of a documentary about a massacre of innocent young people at a music festival.”
Jewish News understands that some staff at the Phoenix had not wanted to work during the screening. Some feared for their safety. Others joined the protest against the screening of the documentary, which focuses on six surviving young festivals goers, one father whose children were taken hostage (later released) and a police officer who saved dozens of lives.
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