The BBC building in Belfast city centre was placed under temporary lockdown on Tuesday morning after a group of pro-Palestinian protesters breached security and entered one of its studios. The incident occurred around 11:00 BST at Blackstaff House on Great Victoria Street, with demonstrators chanting “Free Palestine” and carrying Palestinian flags.
According to eyewitnesses, up to 20 activists entered the premises after allegedly posing as tourists. A BBC staff member reported that while being denied entry at the front, the group took advantage of a departing employee and slipped through a pedestrian gate, later accessing the studio via a fire door.
Police Intervene Without Incident
Six Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) vehicles responded swiftly to the scene. Officers peacefully removed the demonstrators, who then continued their protest outside the building. Police confirmed no property damage was reported during the protest.
Protesters Demand BBC Reforms Its Gaza War Coverage
One of the protesters, Damian Quinn, criticised the BBC’s editorial stance on the Israel-Gaza war, accusing the corporation of downplaying the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He claimed the BBC was “sitting silently” and failing to adequately portray the scale of destruction caused by Israeli military operations.
Referring to Israel’s response to the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack—which killed 1,200 people and resulted in over 250 hostages—Quinn highlighted that over 51,000 Palestinians, many civilians, have reportedly been killed according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
“The BBC is manufacturing consent for genocide,” Quinn stated, criticising the broadcaster’s language choices, including the use of quotation marks and qualifiers like “reportedly”.
Call for Accountability and Future Actions
Protesters demanded that the BBC “do their job” and provide transparent, comprehensive reporting. Another protester, identified only as Jake, labelled the demonstration as part of a broader campaign of civil disobedience. He indicated that similar actions would continue targeting media outlets and institutions perceived as “complicit”.
Earlier the same day, a separate group staged a similar protest at RTÉ’s Dublin headquarters, indicating a coordinated effort across borders.
