UK riots: Sky News reporter forced off-air by mob throwing gun signs at camera

A Sky News journalist reporting from Birmingham was forced to end her live link with the studio as a group of people with their faces covered approached her and the camera.

One of the men cycled up on a bike, shouting "Free Palestine" multiple times and making it difficult for the journalist to carry on speaking, which prompted her to apologise and announce she would end the live broadcast on Monday (August 5).

Sky News reporter Becky Johnson was speaking from the Small Heath neighbourhood of Britain's second-largest city, where Sky reports more than 1,000 members of the Muslim community had gathered amid reports far-Right thugs were planning to target properties.

As she was speaking, a masked man swore, forcing the reporter to apologise for his language, telling viewers it gave a sense of the anger being felt by some among the group.

Sky News anchor Mark Austin apologised after the live feed was cut, telling viewers there would be security alongside his Sky colleague, suggesting she would have been safe.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in Birmingham as well as towns and cities across the country after far-Right thugs continued to loot shops, attack police and target members of minority communities.

Just before the live feed was cut from Birmingham, Ms Johnson told viewers there had been some ill feelings directed towards members of the media.

Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips said rumours the far right would target the neighbourhood were spread to create trouble.

She posted video from an X user of the scene, commenting: "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. It is misinformation being spread to create trouble."

So far, there have been 378 arrests since violence erupted across the country last week, with the National Police Chiefs' Council warning the total would rise each day.

Several suspects faced charges in court on Monday, as ministers and police chiefs descended on Westminster for a meeting aimed at setting out the response for the coming days in a bid to clamp down on further unrest.

Sir Keir Starmer said a "standing army" of specialist officers was being assembled to crack down on the rioting, with the Prime Minister also calling for the perpetrators to be named and shamed.

Calls for the Army to be brought in have so far been dismissed, with the Government insisting the police already have the resources they need to respond.

Setting out the action to be taken, Sir Keir said: "The first is we will have a standing army of specialist public duty officers so that we will have enough officers to deal with this where we need them.

"The second is we will ramp up criminal justice. There have already been hundreds of arrests, some have appeared in court this morning.

"I have asked for early consideration of the earliest naming and identification of those involved in the process who will feel the full force of the law."

He issued a similar warning to anyone whipping up violence online as the Technology Secretary said social media companies providing "a platform for this hate" must go further in tackling it.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the courts are on "standby" to ensure "swift justice". The rioting erupted after three girls were fatally stabbed in Southport, Merseyside, on July 29.

False reports the suspect was an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK on a boat led to a violent protest in the town and saw unrest spread across the country.

Axel Rudakumana, 17, from Lancashire, has been charged with murder. His trial is expected to begin in January.