logo
Windows smashed at BBC building and daubed with ‘Free Gaza' graffiti

Windows smashed at BBC building and daubed with ‘Free Gaza' graffiti

Yahooa day ago

The BBC's Newcastle headquarters has been sprayed with graffiti saying 'Free Gaza', had its windows smashed and glass doors damaged.
Northumbria Police has appealed for information following the attack on the building in the early hours of Tuesday.
A post shared on social media showed graffiti on the building which said: 'LIARS' and 'Free Gaza' in red paint.
The force said: 'Shortly before 2.50am today, we received a report of criminal damage at a premises on Barrack Road in Newcastle.
'It was reported that red paint had been sprayed on the outside of the building earlier that morning, and damage had been caused to the front entrance doors.
'Enquiries into the report are ongoing, and anyone with information should send us a direct message on social media, or by using live chat and report forms on our website.'
A BBC spokesman said: 'We take the safety and security of our staff extremely seriously. Our BBC local news teams in Newcastle have a remit to report on local news across the North East and Cumbria accurately and impartially, and will continue to do so.
'We are working closely with the police who are investigating.'
A clean-up operation had wiped off the graffiti by Tuesday lunchtime and workmen had made repairs to the smashed doors and windows, sweeping up glass and boarding up the damage.
The BBC building, nicknamed the Pink Palace, is the home of its Look North (North East and Cumbria) TV news output and BBC Radio Newcastle.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

What to Know About the Northern Ireland Riots as Police Use Water Cannon Amid Petrol Bombs and Chaos
What to Know About the Northern Ireland Riots as Police Use Water Cannon Amid Petrol Bombs and Chaos

Time​ Magazine

time21 minutes ago

  • Time​ Magazine

What to Know About the Northern Ireland Riots as Police Use Water Cannon Amid Petrol Bombs and Chaos

For a second night in a row, riots rocked the town of Ballymena in Northern Ireland on Tuesday, lasting into the early hours of Wednesday morning. Protesters used petrol bombs and fireworks as they clashed with the authorities. In response, police used plastic baton rounds and a water cannon. The overnight disruption in Ballymena, situated north of the capital Belfast, resulted in the injury of 17 police officers, with some requiring hospital treatment. Five people were arrested on suspicion of riotous behavior, according to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Police have said that across both nights of rioting, businesses and homes have been 'attacked and damaged,' adding that more vehicles were set alight on Tuesday evening, as tensions escalated. A number of protests also took place in other towns and cities across Northern Ireland, including Belfast, Lisburn, and Newtownabbey. Here's what to know about the ongoing unrest in Ballymena. What prompted the riots in Northern Ireland? The disorder started on Monday, June 9, after a peaceful protest took place in the town of Ballymena over an alleged sexual assault that police say took place the previous Saturday. Earlier on Monday, two 14-year-old boys appeared at Coleraine Magistrates' Court in relation to the assault. The boys are charged with attempted oral rape. Both deny the charges. The boys appeared via videolink from a juvenile center, and confirmed their names and ages via a Romanian translator. Later in the day, hundreds of people —including men, women and children—peacefully protested the ongoing case in the town centre of Ballymena. Separate riots then began in the town on Monday night, as police reported a number of 'missiles' thrown at officers and properties nearby being damaged. Chief Superintendent Sue Steen issued a plea to the public on Monday night, saying: 'We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly. Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk.' How long are the riots expected to last? Speaking to the BBC's Nolan Show on Wednesday morning, assistant chief constable Ryan Henderson said that more disorder is expected. 'We are absolutely prepared that we may see more of this in the coming days,' he said.'Given that we have seen it now for two nights and the severity has maintained over both nights, we are certainly preparing that we may face similar tonight.' Henderson urged the public to stay at home on Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, Sky News correspondent Connor Gillies, who is in Ballymena, said that some families are 'barricading themselves' in their attics amid the escalating violence. "The talk here in this town is that it could go on for weeks yet," he said. How have police responded? In response to the first night of rioting, Henderson said during a press conference: 'This violence was clearly racially-motivated and targeted at our minority ethnic community and the police. It was racist thuggery purely and simply, and any attempt to justify or explain it as anything else is misplaced.' The BBC has reported that some households have put up signs signifying the ethnicity or nationality of its residents, seemingly in an effort to remain out of harm's way. One photo showed a sign above a door reading 'Filipino lives here.' In a statement released on Wednesday in response to the second night of chaos, chief constable Jon Boutcher called the riots 'mindless violence' and that it was "deeply concerning and utterly unacceptable." 'These criminal acts not only endanger lives but also risk undermining the ongoing criminal justice process led by the [police] in support of a victim who deserves truth, justice, and protection,' Boutcher said. 'Ironically, and frustratingly, this violence threatens to derail the very pursuit of justice it claims to challenge. Let me be clear: This behaviour must stop. I appeal to everyone involved to cease all further acts of criminality and disorder immediately.' The chief constable also thanked the police officers tasked with handling and responding to the riots, adding that he believes the PSNI is 'critically underfunded.' 'Despite operating under immense financial pressure—far greater than that faced by other public services in Northern Ireland or police forces across the UK and in the Republic of Ireland—our officers continue to display unwavering professionalism, courage, and resolve,' Boutcher added. What have politicians said about the riots? British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called the disorder in Ballymena 'very concerning,' saying that there is 'no justification' for the damage and injuries caused. 'The reports of sexual assault in the area are extremely distressing, but there is no justification for attacks on police officers while they continue to protect local communities,' said a Downing Street spokesperson. "PSNI and the justice system must be allowed to carry out their jobs and our thoughts are with the victims of the assault as well as the police officers who were injured." Michelle O'Neill, Northern Ireland's First Minister, has called for an immediate end to 'the racist and sectarian attacks on families across the North and the rioting in Ballymena.' Speaking out via social media on Wednesday morning, she said: 'No one, now or ever, should feel the need to place a sticker on their door to identify their ethnicity just to avoid being targeted.' Leader of the Northern Irish Unionist Ulster Party Mike Nesbitt, who also serves as Health Minister, said: 'There is no justification for this mayhem, and my thoughts are with those who have lost their homes and the greater number who are feeling intimidated and unwelcome. I understand there are community concerns regarding an alleged serious sexual assault. There are legitimate ways to express those concerns. Street violence is not one of them.' Sinn Féin MP (Member of Parliament) John Finucane has condemned the attacks. 'The racist attacks on a number of homes near the Ballysillan area last night were abhorrent, and my thoughts are with those families affected. Sickening behaviour such as this has no place in our society,' Finucane said in a statement shared via social media on Wednesday morning. 'I will be contacting the families affected to ensure they receive the support they need in the time ahead. Racism, wherever it occurs, must be stamped out and faced down through strong leadership in our communities.' Northern Ireland's Justice Minister Naomi Long has also expressed her concerns over the 'disturbing scenes' from Ballymena. 'There is absolutely no place in our society for such disorder and there can be no justification for it,' Long said. 'Attacking homes and police officers serves no purpose other than to damage communities and raise tensions. Those involved will be pursued and held accountable for their actions.'

Which other US cities have joined LA's protests over immigration raids?
Which other US cities have joined LA's protests over immigration raids?

Yahoo

time37 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Which other US cities have joined LA's protests over immigration raids?

Protests have spread across America following days of demonstrations in Los Angeles against immigration raids by the federal government. Thousands of troops and hundreds of marines have been deployed to LA by US President Donald Trump to quell the demos, causing a row with state politicians. Days of unrest were sparked after federal immigration officers arrested large groups of unauthorised immigrants in areas with large Latino populations. Rallies have since taken place from coast to coast, with more planned over the coming days. LA police make 'mass arrests' as Trump vows to 'liberate' city Everything we know about the demonstrations Voters divided on Trump's LA protest crackdown Trump's deportation drive is perfect storm in city of immigrants Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the state's National Guard to deploy to San Antonio on Tuesday, ahead of planned demonstrations. He wrote on X: "Peaceful protest is legal. Harming a person or property is illegal & will lead to arrest." In Austin, hundreds of protesters gathered on Monday between the state capitol building and a federal building that houses an office for staff of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). State and local police used pepper spray and tear gas to disperse the crowd, while bottles, rocks and other objects were thrown towards officers. Demonstrators have also gathered in Dallas, where at least one arrest was made, and in Houston. Thousands of protestors gathered in lower Manhattan on Tuesday. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) told the BBC that "multiple" arrests had been made at the largely peaceful protests. Mayor Eric Adams said protests like those in LA were "unacceptable and will not be tolerated if attempted in our city". LA is not the only Californian city that has been demonstrating. Thousands of people have protested in San Francisco - and more than 150 were arrested after a demonstration near another ICE office turned violent on Sunday. Buildings and vehicles were damaged, according to local police, while two officers were injured in the disorder. And on Tuesday, some 200 protesters gathered outside the San Francisco Immigration Court after activists said several arrests were made there. Hundreds of protestors gathered in downtown Santa Ana, also in California, on Monday - after reports of ICE raids in the city that morning. The gathering descended into violence. Federal authorities used tear gas to disperse the crowd, while local police said protesters had thrown fireworks, rocks and bottles towards officers. Congresswoman Lou Correa said the problems were caused not "by us but by the federal government coming into our community". At least 15 people were arrested after around 150 protestors gathered in Philadelphia on Tuesday, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News. Local police said the crowd disrupted traffic and "endangered public safety". Several officers used force when making arrests, they added, saying this would be reviewed. Fireworks were thrown towards police and tear gas used to disperse protestors in Atlanta on Monday, according to local media, as hundreds gathered along the city's Buford Highway on Tuesday. At least six people were arrested. Thousands gathered near an immigration court in the city before marching through the city's downtown on Tuesday evening. Local media reported the crowd was largely peaceful. Several unions gathered in the US capital on Monday, marching past the Department of Justice (DoJ) building. They rallied against the detainment of union leader David Huerta during the raids in LA on Friday. He was released from federal custody later on Monday. Hundreds gathered outside Boston City Hall on Monday, similarly calling for Huerta's release. The following day, hundreds marched through the city to the Massachusetts State House. Around 50 people gathered outside Seattle's immigration court on Tuesday. Some tried to block vehicle access to the building using e-bikes and e-scooters.

Which other US cities have joined LA's protests over immigration raids?
Which other US cities have joined LA's protests over immigration raids?

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Which other US cities have joined LA's protests over immigration raids?

Protests have spread across America following days of demonstrations in Los Angeles against immigration raids by the federal government. Thousands of troops and hundreds of marines have been deployed to LA by US President Donald Trump to quell the demos, causing a row with state politicians. Days of unrest were sparked after federal immigration officers arrested large groups of unauthorised immigrants in areas with large Latino populations. Rallies have since taken place from coast to coast, with more planned over the coming days. LA police make 'mass arrests' as Trump vows to 'liberate' city Everything we know about the demonstrations Voters divided on Trump's LA protest crackdown Trump's deportation drive is perfect storm in city of immigrants Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the state's National Guard to deploy to San Antonio on Tuesday, ahead of planned demonstrations. He wrote on X: "Peaceful protest is legal. Harming a person or property is illegal & will lead to arrest." In Austin, hundreds of protesters gathered on Monday between the state capitol building and a federal building that houses an office for staff of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). State and local police used pepper spray and tear gas to disperse the crowd, while bottles, rocks and other objects were thrown towards officers. Demonstrators also gathered in Dallas on Monday, where at least one arrest was made. Thousands of protestors gathered in lower Manhattan on Tuesday. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) told the BBC that "multiple" arrests had been made at the largely peaceful protests. Mayor Eric Adams said protests like those in LA were "unacceptable and will not be tolerated if attempted in our city". LA is not the only Californian city that has been demonstrating. Thousands of people have protested in San Francisco - and more than 150 were arrested after a demonstration near another ICE office turned violent on Sunday. Buildings and vehicles were damaged, according to local police, while two officers were injured in the disorder. And on Tuesday, some 200 protesters gathered outside the San Francisco Immigration Court after activists said several arrests were made there. At least 15 people were arrested after around 150 protestors gathered in Philadelphia on Tuesday, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News. Local police said the crowd disrupted traffic and "endangered public safety". Several officers used force when making arrests, they added, saying this would be reviewed. Fireworks were thrown towards police and tear gas used to disperse protestors in Atlanta on Monday, according to local media, as hundreds gathered along the city's Buford Highway on Tuesday. At least six people were arrested. Thousands gathered near an immigration court in the city before marching through the city's downtown on Tuesday evening. Local media reported the crowd was largely peaceful. Several unions gathered in the US capital on Monday, marching past the Department of Justice (DoJ) building. They rallied against the detainment of union leader David Huerta during the raids in LA on Friday. He was released from federal custody later on Monday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store