BBC's double standards exposed: Broadcaster describes 'terror attack' in Belgium... and then adds insult to injury

Two Swedish nationals were shot dead and another person was left injured around three miles away from the 50,000-seater King Baudoin Stadium.

The gunman has since been shot dead by police.

WATCH NOW: Emergency response to last night's shooting in Brussels

The BBC has come under fire after its initial headline appeared to label the incident a “terror attack”.

It read: “Suspect at large after two Swedes killed in terror attack”.

The broadcaster soon edited the story, writing: “Two Swedes killed and suspect still at large.”

Its current headline says: “'Europe shaken' after two Swedes shot dead.”

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The coverage sparked criticism after the BBC refused to call Hamas' onslaught against Israel a terrorist attack.

Hamas, who were proscribed as a terrorist organisation in 2019, launched an unprecedented assault against Israel on October 7.

The BBC has instead opted to refer to Hamas as “militants”, prompting protests outside Broadcasting House and pushing five lawyers to pen a letter to Ofcom boss Lord Grade.

But the BBC's article about yesterday's Brussels attack sparked further fury.

Nick Timothy, a former special adviser to ex-Prime Minister Theresa May and Conservative candidate at the next general election, said: "I thought Jews Don't Count was a critique, not the title of the BBC style guide."

Journalist Nicole Lampert described the broadcaster's initial headline as "extraordinary", writing on social media: "The BBC has refused to use the term 'terror attack' for the Hamas massacre yet they've used it within two hours of one in Brussels."

David Collier added: "1,300 Jews get slaughtered. The BBC says it is not terrorism. A shooting in Brussels and within the hour... The BBC says it is terrorism. Utter b******s."

The BBC has previously attributed other incidents to terror groups, including ones involving the IRA and Al-Qaeda.

Responding to criticism, a BBC spokesperson said: "This was a mistake - the headline should have attributed the words, so it was swiftly changed.”

Veteran journalist John Simpson also defended the broadcaster's coverage.

He said: “British politicians know perfectly well why the BBC avoids the word 'terrorist', and over the years plenty of them have privately agreed with it.

"Calling someone a terrorist means you're taking sides and ceasing to treat the situation with due impartiality."

Around 1,400 Israelis were killed and another 199 have been taken hostage during Hamas' attack.

Subsequent airstrikes have resulted in at least 2,670 people being killed in Gaza.

Footage from Brussels showed the gunman, dressed in orange, using an assault rifle after quickly demounting a motorbike.

Belgian authorities raised the capital's terror threat warning from two to four and the Red Devils clash with Sweden was called off at half time due to security reasons.

Alexander De Croo, who became Belgium's Prime Minister in 2020, said: "Belgium sends its sincere condolences to the people of Sweden. This terrorist attack shakes the foundations of our peaceful societies.

"We offer our unwavering solidarity in the face of this blind hatred. We will counter terrorism together with even greater determination."

Sweden's Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer added: "Tonight we have received terrible news from Brussels. The Government office and relevant authorities are working intensively to get more information about what happened."

Stockholm raised its own terrorist alert to the second highest level in August amid concerns about a backlash against Koran burnings in the Scandinavian nation.