BBC News anchor Huw Edwards has claimed that following yesterday’s mass shooting in Plymouth, the ongoing tensions in Afghanistan appeared more suitable for the lead story. It comes as the war becomes more volatile as the Taliban closes in on the country’s capital city, Kabul.
Huw, 63, made the decision to speak out after the BBC was criticised on social media, after deciding to lead their coverage on Afghanistan, rather than the horrific shooting in Plymouth.
Yesterday, six people, three men and three women, including a child believed to be under the age of ten, were killed according to a local MP.
Police were called to Biddick Drive in the Keyham area at around 6.10pm following reports of gunshots.
Luke Pollard, Plymouth Sutton & Devonport MP, said: “I’m utterly devastated that one of the people killed in the Keyham shooting was a child under ten years old.”
READ MORE: POLL: Should Eamonn Holmes be fired for ‘racist’ comments?
However, despite the incident, bosses at the BBC chose to centre the News at Ten bulletin on the ongoing tensions in Afghanistan due to the hostile situation affecting around 4,000 British citizens.
One confused viewer tweeted: “Why on earth is the BBC Ten o’Clock News leading with Afghanistan when people want to know about the Plymouth shootings?
“The BBC seem to devalue domestic breaking and dramatic news @paulroyall@thehuwedwards.”
After seeing the tweet, Bridgend born Huw responded: “Thanks for tag – but it was the excellent @sophieraworth presenting tonight. [The] decision to lead on Afghanistan was on balance right given the evolving disaster and fate of 4,000 British citizens. Shootings in Plymouth are horrific and more detail will perhaps emerge soon. @BBCNews.”
Responding to Huw, the original viewer said: “Hmmm… I respectfully disagree on that one, Huw. ITV News and Sky both led on Plymouth. I suspect that because so much work had gone into the Afghanistan packages, this might have affected the decision. And yes, Sophie was excellent though.”
To which Huw commented: “Of course there’s a debate. But the decision had little to do with pre-prepared material. It was a valid editorial decision. Our competitors took a different view but had very little detail or vital context.”
While some had been left perplexed by the decision made by BBC bosses, others agreed, with one viewer replying to Huw: “I thought this to start with but the implications of Afghanistan are significant for the whole world and there wasn’t almost nothing to report from Plymouth as no details had been released at that point.”(sic)
A second added: “There will be more than enough reporting on the ghastly events in Plymouth not interested in speculation, which is all we could have now.”(sic)
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Last night, General Sir Nick Carter, the Chief of the Defence Staff, revealed that Al-Qaeda terrorists are fighting alongside Taliban militants, with thousands of innocent civilians fleeing brutality and misery across the country.
Around 600 British troops have been deployed to help up to 4,000 British embassy personnel, translators and “other personnel that might be at risk,” including security guards, for a safe return to Britain later this month.
Those leaving Afghanistan will be using commercial airliners but there are plans in place to use military aircraft should services be suspended or local airports come under attack.
Many in Afghanistan now consider it a matter of “when, not if” Kabul will fall to Taliban militants following the latest news that the Taliban have seized control of Lashkar Gah, the capital of the southern Helmand province.
Meanwhile, in a statement last night, Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Two females and two males were deceased at the scene.
“A further male, believed to be the offender, was also deceased at the scene.”
They added: “All are believed to have died from gunshot wounds.
“Another female treated at the scene for gunshot wounds, died a short time later in hospital,” before confirming that the investigation is still ongoing.
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