Man scales BBC HQ and hits statue with hammer

A antheral has scaled the beforehand of the BBC's HQ successful London and has deed a arguable statue with a hammer successful an evident protest.

There person been calls for Eric Gill's Prospero and Ariel statue to beryllium removed due to the fact that the sculptor recorded sexually abusing his daughters successful his diaries.

It is the 2nd clip the 1930s enactment astatine Broadcasting House has been targeted.

A protester took a hammer to it past twelvemonth and harm from that incidental is inactive being repaired.

The Metropolitan Police said it was called astatine 04:15 BST connected Saturday to reports of a antheral who had climbed scaffolding and who was damaging a sculpture.

A spokesperson added: "It has not been imaginable to safely detain the antheral fixed the circumstances of the incident, including the height.

"Specialist officers person been called to the scene."

By 07:00 the antheral could beryllium seen leaning against immoderate scaffolding portion wearing a Spiderman disguise and shouting astatine a constabulary officer.

A constabulary cordon is successful place, with parts of Regent Street and the beforehand of New Broadcasting House taped off.

The entranceway to the BBC was temporarily unopen connected 9 May portion repairs were made to the sculpture.

Work was expected to beryllium completed by 19 June, the BBC said astatine the time.

The BBC property bureau has been approached for a comment.