Susanna Reid takes thinly-veiled swipe at the BBC after broadcaster refuses to admit Hamas killers are terrorists
SUSANNA Reid took a thinly-veiled swipe at the BBC today after the broadcaster refused to admit Hamas killers are terrorists.
BBC chiefs insisted they would keep referring to the blood-thirsty monsters as “militants” in the name of fairness.
Hamas is officially classed as a terrorist group by a string of western governments.
Rob Rinder, 45, who is Jewish, appeared on Thursday’s Good Morning Britain to talk about the impact of the terror attack.
The former host of Judge Rinder revealed he knew people who were killed in Hamas’ terror attack.
During the emotional interview, Rob also commented: “It’s painful I suspect for you there looking into that autocue calling these people ‘militants’ knowing what is going to ensue.”
But the ITV presenter, 42, responded: “We are very clearly calling them terrorists.
“I mean it was an act of terror what happened and it was a barbaric atrocity.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the BBC needs to explain why it does not use the word terrorist — adding “that’s obviously what we are witnessing”.
And Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer asked BBC director-general Tim Davie if the broadcaster will reconsider its editorial guidelines.
Danny Cohen, a former BBC director of TV, said its coverage was “as if shooting children in cold blood is some part of conventional military warfare. It is nothing of the sort. It is murder, pure and simple. It is terrorism.”
BBC foreign and world affairs correspondent John Simpson said: “Calling someone a terrorist means you’re taking sides.
“The BBC’s job is to place the facts before its audience and let them decide what they think.”
And a BBC spokesman said: “Anyone watching or listening to our coverage will hear the word terrorist used many times. We attribute it to those using it.
“The BBC’s job is to explain precisely what is happening so our audiences can make their own judgment.”
Its guidelines state: “The word terrorist can be a barrier rather than an aid to understanding.”