BBC Slammed Over Coverage of 25th Anniversary of September 11 Attacks

Britain's public broadcaster BBC has found itself at the centre of a scandal over its coverage of the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Across its TV programmes, radio broadcasts and news website, the corporation largely avoided the phrase "Islamist terrorism," with several pieces instead shifting focus to discrimination against Muslims in the United States.

In an article titled "Spies, Strategies and Missed Opportunities: What We're Still Learning from 9/11," the phrase "terrorist attack" appeared just once — BBC journalists opted instead for references to "attacks against the US." On the BBC Global News Podcast, the host opened a segment on the anniversary without mentioning who was behind the attack at all.

Reaction from Journalists and Critics

A reporter broadcasting live from New York did acknowledge the attack as terrorism, but then pivoted the conversation toward the discrimination Muslims in the US face as a result of the 2001 events. That particular emphasis drew sharp criticism from the British tabloid Daily Mail, which quoted an anonymous "Westminster source" comparing the BBC's approach to "starting D-Day commemorations by talking about Nazi suffering."

Former BBC journalist Catherine Lang told the newspaper: "Words I heard in BBC news coverage: Islamophobia, disproportionate measures, Muslim communities. Words I didn't hear: Islamist terrorists."

"Planes Crashed into the Twin Towers"

On the podcast, the host described the events as though recounting an accidental tragedy: "Memorial events are taking place across the country to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Nearly 3,000 people died when planes crashed into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers and the Pentagon. A fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania." Only later did the New York-based reporter clarify that the attack was carried out by al-Qaeda* hijackers who seized passenger jets and flew them into the 110-storey towers.

The podcast then moved on to discuss how 9/11 shaped US domestic and foreign policy, and how the attacks "made Muslim Americans a target." BBC journalists noted that, according to human rights organisations, 25 years on, Muslims in the US are facing record levels of discrimination — even though one American city has already elected its first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani.

The Word "Terrorism" as an "Obstacle"

The BBC's approach also drew criticism from prominent American television host Bill Maher on his show Real Time with Bill Maher. He pointed out that the corporation had avoided the word "terrorism" before, citing the BBC's own past statement describing the term as "more of a barrier than an aid to understanding." "You know what's actually a barrier to understanding? Lying," Maher retorted.

The BBC had previously defended its avoidance of the word "terrorism" back in 2023, just four days after Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. At the time, the broadcaster stated: "We should use terms that specifically describe the perpetrator, such as 'bomber,' 'attacker,' 'gunman,' 'kidnapper,' 'insurgent' and 'militant.'"

Source: novinky.cz