Moment Sky News reporter is harassed by aggressive thug in Birmingham

A Sky News reporter giving a live report on a developing stand-off between far-right thugs and locals in Birmingham was interrupted by a protester on a motorbike who swore and made rude gestures at the camera. Masked groups have turned out in the Alum Rock and Bordesley Green areas after rumours circulated in a far-right Telegram group of thugs heading to the city. Some of those who turned up to a McDonalds in the area confronted Sky News reporter Becky Johnson as she delivered a live report to anchorman Mark Austin – riding up to her on a motorbike as she spoke to the camera.

Ms Johnson later disclosed that a Sky News van was attacked by a man with a knife as they attempted to leave the scene – after being told they were not welcome in the area. As she reported that local community leaders had been speaking to police about the gatherings, the man shouted: ‘Yo, free Palestine, [expletive] the EDL (English Defence League)’. He was then surrounded by accomplices who approached the camera as it sought to turn away and crop them out of the scene – while Ms Johnson attempted to apologise for the language used by the protesters. The broadcast was then ended as Mark Austin said: ‘We need to leave you there and Becky will have security there.’ He also apologised for the language.

Later, the correspondent revealed she and her colleagues had been told to leave the area – before a masked man with a knife tried to puncture their van’s tyre with a knife. She wrote on Sky News : ‘as we attempted to report live from across the street we were approached by a group of men who told us to leave. ‘Older men intervened, reassuring us that we should stay. But as the situation became more hostile, we took a decision to drive away. ‘As we did, a man in a balaclava ran alongside us brandishing a knife. He ran in front of one of our vehicles and began stabbing at the tyre of our broadcast van. It wasn’t damaged, so we were able to continue to drive away.’

Videos from Birmingham tonight show large groups of men, some wearing masks and waving Palestine flags, gathering on the centre of a roundabout next to the McDonalds. Local councillors turned out, seemingly in support of the community turning out in the area in response to rumours of a far-right protest that spread online last night. In remarks reported by Birmingham Live , Yardley West and Stechford Cllr Baber Baz He said: ‘As you can see there has been a strong response form the community. ‘As long as it remains peaceful which I am sure it will we are sending a strong message to the EDL that they are not welcome here and will not divide our community.’

Jess Phillips, Labour MP for the area, claimed on social media that local Muslims had been coaxed out onto the streets by the rumours. ‘To be clear all day rumours have been spread that a far right group were coming and it was done entirely to get Muslim people out on the street to drive this content,’ she wrote on X, responding to the Sky News footage. ‘These people came to this location because it has been spread that racists were coming to attack them.’

West Midlands Police has not issued a statement on the gathering. A representative for the force would only confirm to MailOnline that officers had been deployed in the area. Chief constable Craig Guildford said earlier today the force has been monitoring ‘local and national intelligence’ on further gatherings in the wake of the Southport killings last Monday. ‘My message of support remains unchanged, insofar as, the police will deal with protestors professionally and directly,’ he said. Murmurs of a far-right in Birmingham spread on social media earlier today, and were the subject of discussion in a racist Telegram group linked to the initial violence in Southport after three girls were killed last week.

One message, shared on the group at 1.30am today and seen by MailOnline, read: ‘Where’s the meet in alum rock Iv got 50 lads Chelmsley wood ready.’ The group is littered with racist language and has shared violent footage of Christchurch mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant’s killings. Meanwhile, in Stockton-on-Tees, hundreds of Muslims stood guard outside a mosque on Teesside today as similar rumours of a far-right gathering spread online. Around 400 people gathered at the community-funded Farooq E Azam Mosque and Islamic Centre in Stockton-on-Tees at around 1pm. The largely peaceful vigil briefly erupted as a white man was arrested by police for disorderly behaviour at the end of Bowesfield Lane, where the mosque stands.

Those protecting the building surged around the police vehicles and cheered as he was driven away. Rumours that started on Facebook were given credence when the local job centre and a doctor’s surgery closed their doors in anticipation of a repeat of the violence that erupted in neighbouring Middlesbrough 24 hours earlier. Some members of the crowd were masked, but most stood quietly in groups with their backs to the wall of the mosque, the largest in Teesside. Volunteer Saeed Bashir, a volunteer who works in the mosque’s education department, said: ‘We began to hear that rumours were circulating on social media and they seemed to be getting taken seriously. ‘Around 1pm people started to arrive and quite quickly there were hundreds outside standing guard. ‘It wasn’t something that was organised, people from the community just wanted to come and help. ‘It is a peaceful situation, no one is here to cause trouble but the mosque really means something here. ‘We are community funded, we’ve received no grants or funding, it is paid for and maintained by the people so no one wants to see any damage. ‘Cleveland police have sent officers down and they’re here to assist if anything happens.’

Councillor Sufi Mubeen of Stockton Council joined the crowds outside the mosque. He said: ‘This is a peaceful effort from the entire community and we are grateful to the police for their assistance in this. ‘It wasn’t planned, people came here of their own accord because of social media rumours, which we’ve heard for a few days. ‘What made things different today is that the job centre and doctor’s surgery closed their doors. ‘People are understandably anxious that there is no senseless actions against the Muslim community, especially after what happened in Middlesbrough. ‘It is very good to see that there are many members of the white community who have come here in solidarity. ‘Stockton is a culturally mixed community and it is good to see the support we have from all sides. ‘This is not an aggressive act, people have come here to make sure nothing happens to the centre of our community.’

Southport has found itself at the centre of the turmoil engulfing the nation following the horrifying stabbing of children at a Taylor Swift dance event on Monday which led to the death of three girls. Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar died following the attack. Axel Rudakubana, 17, has been charged with their murder and the attempted murder of 10 others. Sir Keir Starmer last night lashed out at what he branded ‘far-right thuggery’ by those exploiting the Southport killings to loot, hurl fireworks, scrap with police and target mosques with violence . The PM said: ‘People in this country have a right to be safe and yet we’ve seen Muslim communities targeted, attacks on mosques, other minority communities singled out, Nazi salutes in the street, attacks on the police, and wanton violence. ‘So no, I won’t shy away from calling it what it is: far-right thuggery. ‘To those who feel targeted because of the colour of your skin or your faith, I know how frightening this must be. ‘I want you to know that this violent mob does not represent our country, and we will bring them to justice.’ He has since promised a ‘standing army’ of specialist police officers is being assembled to crack down on rioting after an emergency Cobra meeting today. Almost 400 people have been arrested since rioting began last week.

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