Pro-Palestine demonstrators briefly gained access to the BBC building in Belfast and RTÉ headquarters in Dublin on April 22, 2025, prompting police intervention and highlighting concerns over media coverage of the Gaza conflict.
Pro-Palestine protesters entered prominent media buildings in both Belfast and Dublin on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, leading to police and security interventions at each site.
In Belfast city centre, a group of demonstrators carrying Palestinian flags and chanting slogans gained access to the BBC building on Great Victoria Street at approximately 11am. Their presence inside the building prompted a brief lockdown while police officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) were dispatched to the scene. According to a PSNI spokesperson, once officers engaged with the protesters, the group exited the premises and continued their protest outside. The spokesperson added, “No damage was caused and the protesters have since moved on from this area.” The BBC also confirmed the incident with a statement emphasising the importance of staff and building security, noting, “Unauthorised access is wrong and can create risks for everyone involved.”
Shortly after midday in Dublin, a smaller group of pro-Palestine protesters entered the RTÉ reception area on the broadcaster’s Donnybrook campus. Gardaí were called to the location and swiftly managed to remove the crowd. A spokesman for An Garda Síochána commented, “Gardaí attended at a public gathering at a premises in Donnybrook, Dublin 4 this afternoon, Tuesday April 22 2025. This gathering has now dispersed. No offences disclosed.” RTÉ declined to comment on security-related matters.
Both groups of protesters were voicing their dissatisfaction with media coverage of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, drawing attention to their concerns by choosing to enter major broadcasters’ premises in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative references events occurring on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, which is very recent relative to the current date (April 23, 2025). There are no signs of recycled or outdated news, and no references to past events inconsistent with the current timeline.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Direct quotes from police spokespeople (PSNI, Gardaí) and BBC are used. The quotes appear to be official statements typical in incident reporting and no earlier sources contradict or predate these. Lack of independent archival sources means these are likely original or first-reported quotes, increasing authenticity.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Irish Mirror, a well-known but tabloid-leaning publication in Ireland. While it generally covers news events promptly, it is less authoritative than outlets like BBC or Reuters. The incident involves statements from reputable public agencies (PSNI, Gardaí, BBC), lending credibility to the report.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The events described are plausible given ongoing geopolitical tensions and recent history of protests at media buildings. The involvement of official police statements and lack of reported damage or offences supports plausibility. No contradictory information found.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is timely and consistent with recent events dated April 22, 2025. Quotes are official and likely original statements from police and broadcasters. The Irish Mirror, while not the most authoritative source, relies on statements from credible institutions, supporting reliability. Reported events are plausible and coherent with the current situation.
