BBC Broadcasting House Locked Down As Man Douses Himself In Petrol And Threatens To Set Himself Ablaze

BBC Broadcasting House Locked Down As Man Tries To Set Himself On Fire
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A man has been detained outside the BBC's Broadcasting House headquarters after reportedly pouring petrol over his body and "threatening to set himself on fire."

According to reports, the man was wrestled to the ground by security guards after pouring the flammable liquid over his body close to the building's Portland Place entrance.

BBC reporter Emilia Papodopoulos tweeted that there was "scary stuff" happening outside her workplace, before posting pictures of the man being apprehended. News of the incident quickly spread across Twitter.

Police said they were called to the building just after at 9am and detained the man, before examining two bags at the scene which specialist officers determined were "non-suspicious".

The building was cordoned off, police said, but was not evacuated.

A police spokesman said officers are "working closely with security".

The BBC has confirmed the incident happened, but has not commented further.

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BBC Security Alert
(01 of09)
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Security alert at the BBC Broadcasting House where a man was arrested for pouring petrol outside Radio One studios. The BBC security people jumped on the man and held him down until the police arrived. BBC Staff were seen pouring sand over the spilt liquid while the BBC staff was being evacuated away from the building. The man was shouting all the time. Two large milk cartons were seen with clear liquid inside which smelt of petrol - London (credit:Ian Lawrence / Splash News)
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