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Ofcom receives 280 complaints over racist language in BBC news report

The BBC has been hit by close to 300 complaints after a reporter used a racial slur.

Social affairs correspondent Fiona Lamdin was reporting on an attack that was suspected to have been racially motivated when she repeated a racist term which was allegedly used during the incident.

The report aired on the BBC News Channel and regional news programme Points West on Tuesday morning, and broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has now confirmed to Yahoo that it has received 280 complaints.

Media trucks outside BBC Broadcasting House in London, they are to announce cuts to its news division as part of a cost-cutting drive.
BBC Broadcasting House in London (PA)

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The broadcasts also prompted a response on social media, with many people posting messages saying that using the term was not necessary.

“There was no need for it,” said one person on Twitter, while another posted: “It is offensive no-matter the context its used in.”

Another viewer said that the term was “wholly unnecessary and added nothing to the story”.

File photo dated 11/05/16 of the BBC logo. The BBC has said that an introduction to Newsnight, which discussed the Dominic Cummings lockdown row, "did not meet our standards of due impartiality".
BBC later said it was no longer running that version of the news report. (PA)

However, there were others who suggested it was reasonable to report the facts of the incident.

The BBC later said that it was no longer running that version of the news report.

A spokeswoman for the broadcaster said the report related to a “shocking unprovoked attack on a young man”.

“His family told the BBC about the racist language used by the attackers and wanted to see the full facts made public,” she added.

“A warning was given before this was reported.

“We are no longer running this version of the report but are continuing to pursue the story.”

Additional reporting by PA.