Man pours petrol over himself 'shouting slogans' and threatening to set himself on fire outside BBC's New Broadcasting House

The man has been detained and two bags at the location are being looked at by specialist officers

The man was pinned to the ground by security staff and police (Emilia Papadopoulos / Twitter)

A man poured petrol on himself while and threatened to set himself on fire outside the BBC's headquarters in London Police were called to the BBC’s London headquarters this morning after a man poured petrol over himself while wielding a lighter and threatening to set himself on fire.

Pictures posted online of the incident showed security personnel and Metropolitan police officers pinning the man to the ground outside New Broadcasting House in central London.

The man, who has been detained and police officers remain at the scene as a precaution, the Met said, while two bags at the location are being looked at by specialist officers.

The Met said officers were called at around 9am on Wednesday to reports of a man threatening to set fire to himself.

The building has not been evacuated and a cordon has been placed in front of the building. No one was harmed.

“From what witnesses tell me, doesn’t sound like it was a political protest,” he wrote, adding, “Very strong smell of petrol now every time someone opens the door”.

The fire brigade is now dealing with the petrol spill, he said.