A man dowsed himself with petrol outside the BBC headquarters and threatened to set himself alight with a lighter.
Security guards had tackled the man to the ground earlier at the BBC Broadcasting House near Oxford Circus, while the building was put under ‘lock-down’.
The police arrested the man who was soaked in highly flammable fuel by the entrance to the building this morning, after he was heard ‘shouting slogans’ and threatening to set himself ablaze.
The police rushed to the incident after 9am. It had provoked fears of a terror attack on online media.
BYPASS THE CENSORS
Sign up to get unfiltered news delivered straight to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe any time. By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use
The Daily Star reports:
BBC staffer Emilia Papadopoulos described the horror, saying: “Scary stuff at the bbc this morning. This man poured petrol outside the entrance to NBH before security intercepted.”
The building in Portland Place, central London was placed on lockdown but was not evacuated.
Two bags by the front door of the BBC News Broadcasting House were later being investigated by officers.
#BBC on lock down pic.twitter.com/lU3WxmQY5w
— Emilia Papadopoulos (@emiliapaps) June 10, 2015
Bystanders said they saw police shouting at a woman trying to light her cigarette outside the building entrance, where a pool of petrol lay.
Police cordoned off the area until the early afternoon.
Man tackled by cops after reportedly dousing himself in petrol and threatening to set himself on fire at the BBC’s HQ pic.twitter.com/rpFq9WhidO
— Zora Suleman (@ZoraSuleman) June 10, 2015
Former Arsenal star Thierry Henry and actors from the Entourage film were waiting in a van outside the building, it was reported.
Took this picture seconds after police detainee an agitated man outside BBC HQ. Area smelled strongly of petrol pic.twitter.com/RJf5q9LUYg — Mohamed Madi (@m_madi) June 10, 2015
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Police were called today, Wednesday, 10 June at 09:11hrs to the BBC, Portland Place, to reports of a man threatening to set fire to himself.
“Officers attended and the man has been detained.”
