British MPs to get beefed up security after foam-fiasco
October 18th, 2011 - 8:10 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Oct 18 (IANS) A new security chief is likely to be appointed to oversee the protection of the Parliament following the “chaos” caused by a foam pie assault on media baron Rupert Murdoch during the hearing of a phone-hacking scandal.
Murdoch was attacked while facing a parliamentary panel over two months ago.
Commons Speaker John Bercow has announced tighter security procedures are to be introduced after the media mogul fell victim to a protester’s stunt. A new official could be put in charge following the “serious failure of planning” for the Commons Media Committee hearing in July, the Daily Express reported.
Bercow Monday savaged the “inadequate” security when the 80-year-old News Corporation chief and his son James gave evidence to a hearing about the newspaper phone hacking scandal.
The Speaker said: “The review found that, at the time of the attack, none of the security staff in the room was in a position to be able to reach the assailant before he got to Murdoch. Those present commented upon the chaotic nature of scenes inside and outside the committee room following the incident.
“The inadequate security in the room was the result of a serious failure of planning, based upon the wrong assessment of risk,” he added.
- Murdoch attacked during British parliamentary hearing (Lead) - Jul 19, 2011
- 'Humbled' Murdoch denies responsibility for phone hacking (Lead) - Jul 20, 2011
- Comedian who attacked Murdoch jailed for six weeks - Aug 03, 2011
- London police accused of bungling phone-hacking probe - Jul 20, 2011
- News International CEO Rebekah Brooks quits (Lead) - Jul 15, 2011
- Rebekah Brooks arrested? - Jul 17, 2011
- Every fifth London police PR person worked for Murdoch - Jul 20, 2011
- News International deliberately blocked probe: MPs' panel (Lead) - Jul 20, 2011
- Rebekah Brooks released on bail - Jul 18, 2011
- Cameron says hacking probe to be widened, regrets hiring Coulson (Second Lead) - Jul 20, 2011
- Murdoch says he's humbled by MPs' probe - Jul 19, 2011
- Murdoch attacked in British parliament - Jul 19, 2011
- Phone hacking probe will be widened: Cameron (Lead) - Jul 20, 2011
- Rebekah Brooks appears before the British Parliamentary Committee - Jul 20, 2011
- Another British police officer resigns over phone-hacking scandal - Jul 18, 2011
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