Police called to BBC after man pours petrol on himself outside Broadcasting House

Update: Police have said the cordon around BBC's Broadcasting House will be lifted within the hour, after dealing with an incident in which a man tried to set himself on fire.

 

Officers were called to the central London premises this morning after the man, who has not been identified, poured petrol on himself in front of the building.

He was tackled before he could set himself alight. 

 

Police were also called to deal with two potentially suspicious packages that were left outside the building, 

 

The incident was attended by both police and the London Fire Brigade. The man has been taken away and is currently being held in custody. 

 

Police were called at 9:11am and are still on the scene along with forensic officers.

 

The building has not been evacuated, a spokeswoman confirmed. 

 

Some eyewitnesses said he got so close to the building that they could smell the petrol. 

 

Broadcasting House, located just off Oxford Street, is the BBC's relatively new home, with the corporation having moved there from its White City headquarters in 2013.

 

A BBC spokeswoman declined to comment.

 

https://twitter.com/SandraGorel/status/608553307355910144

 

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https://twitter.com/g_hetherington/status/608556947160346624

 

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