TV reporter SCREAMS live on air as she is attacked by screwdriver-wielding Muslim yelling ‘Allahu Akbar’ during Floyd protest

“Islamic jihadis feel free to attack brazenly and out in the open, as they know that weak authorities, desperately afraid of being labeled “Islamophobic,” will deal with them lightly and they will be out on the streets again in no time. And so it is certain that Sophie will not be the last Australian, or the last person in London, to be attacked in broad daylight by a Muslim screaming “Allahu akbar.” Such people have been nothing but encouraged.” (Robert Spencer)

Nine’s Europe Correspondent Sophie Walsh has been assaulted live on air while covering upcoming protests from London. @sophie_walsh9 #9News pic.twitter.com/C7Oin84kiy

— Nine News Perth (@9NewsPerth) June 3, 2020

Australian TV reporter screams live on air as she is attacked by screwdriver-wielding man yelling ‘Allahu Akbar’ while covering Black Lives Matter protest in London

• Correspondent Sophie Walsh was assaulted during a live broadcast this morning
• Footage was not captured of assault but reporter, 34, can be heard screaming
• The attacker was arrested for threats to kill and possessing an offensive weapon
• She later tweeted ‘I’m shaken but okay’ and thanked her ‘incredible cameraman’

By Katie Weston For Mailonline, 3 June 2020 |

A reporter screamed live on air as she claimed she was attacked by a screwdriver-wielding man yelling ‘Allahu Akbar’ while covering the Black Lives Matter protest in London.

Nine News’ Europe correspondent Sophie Walsh, 34, was assaulted on Park Lane while broadcasting around 9.45am today, according to the Australian network.

Footage was not captured of the attack but Ms Walsh can be heard screaming and seen clearly shaken afterwards while relaying the incident to one of her colleagues.

The alleged attack came as police arrested a man after a car driving ‘very fast’ mounted a pavement and hit a pensioner, 69, and another man in nearby Sloane Square in a separate incident.

Nine’s Europe Correspondent Sophie Walsh has been assaulted live on air while covering upcoming protests from London. @sophie_walsh9 #9News pic.twitter.com/C7Oin84kiy

— Nine News Perth (@9NewsPerth) June 3, 2020

She said: ‘Sorry, I just had someone come up and try and… yeah.

‘A man just came up and grabbed me. He’s not armed. A man just came up and grabbed me though.’

A fellow presenter reported the attacker ‘made motions to stab her’ with the cameraman operator and bystanders chasing him down.

The incident was later reported on the Nine News network in Adelaide when TV anchor Brenton Ragless described what happened.

Ragless said: ‘The attacker grabbed Sophie during Adelaide’s 6pm news bulletin just an hour ago. He yelled ‘Allahu Akbar’ while making motions to stab her.

‘The man was chased down and detained by Nine’s camera operator and bystanders until police arrived. It is unclear whether the man had a screwdriver in his hand or in his pocket.’

He added: ‘Sophie is shaken but unharmed, which is good news.’

Footage later shows a man being detained by two police officers and held against a car bonnet.

The man was arrested for making threats to kill, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of class B drugs.

Ms Walsh later wrote on Twitter: ‘Thank you for your messages. The man has been arrested for threats to kill and carrying a weapon. I’m shaken but okay.

Footage showed a man being detained by two police officers, above, and held against a car bonnet. Ms Walsh later wrote on Twitter she is ‘shaken but okay’

The cameraman, Jason Conduit, is pictured chasing the man with a light stand. Senior producer Michelle Taverniti tweeted: ‘Incredibly brave. We’re all thankful they’re alright’

Big thanks to my incredible cameraman Jason Conduit who chased him down armed with a light stand and got him arrested.’

Senior producer Michelle Taverniti also posted a picture of Mr Conduit chasing after the man, captioning: ‘Incredibly brave. We’re all thankful they’re alright.’

The network said in a statement: ‘Nine News appreciates the enormous pressure our international correspondents are under and is offering Sophie Walsh ongoing support.’

‘Sophie is grateful for the outpouring of support she has received from the public and wishes to reassure our viewers that she is safe and well.’

Ms Walsh joined Nine News in 2009 after working as the head of newsroom at WIN television in Bundaberg, Australia.

She became a weekend weather presenter for the network in Brisbane in 2014 before returning to Sydney and being appointed as the Europe correspondent in June of last year.

Met Police said the attack was ‘not being treated as a terror incident’.

A spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Police were called at 09:46 on Wednesday, 03 June to Park Lane, W1 reports of an assault and a man making threats.

‘Police nearby gave chase and detained the man. No injuries have been reported at this time.

‘A man, no further details, was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of class B drugs.

‘He has been taken to a central London police station, where he remains at this time.’

It comes as thousands of Black Lives Matter protesters including singer Liam Payne and actor John Boyega gathered in the capital city today as a show of force against the death of George Floyd in the US.

Huge crowds came together in Hyde Park this afternoon despite ongoing social distancing rules as many campaigners wore face coverings and held signs with messages reading ‘Please, I can’t breathe’, ‘BLM’ and ‘Colour ≠ Crime’.

The rally comes amid global demonstrations gather pace following the death of 46-year-old black man Mr Floyd who died after white police officer Derek Chauvin put his knee on his neck for nine minutes in Minneapolis on May 25.

Today, Star Wars star John Boyega told the crowd: ‘Black lives have always mattered. We have always been important.