During MSNBC’s live breaking news coverage of the suspected terrorist attacks in London on Wednesday, NBC News reporter Matt Bradley reported via phone from the British capital and was more worried about the violence helping conservative politicians than he was about the victims: “We've seen this rise of a kind of a right-wing movement here and throughout Europe. And this is only going to put wind in the sails of those who would say that this is an issue that needs to be looked at, that needs to be examined in terms of refugees.”
Desperately trying to downplay any possible connection to Islamic terrorism, Bradley touted: “But it should be noted, that MI-5, which is the domestic intelligence agency and police agency for the UK, they've come out and said that there is no terror link so far.” Anchor Ali Velshi replied: “Yeah, good point. They’re saying that it's too early to say, certainly, that it isn't, they’re still trying to get it locked down.”
Only minutes later, London police announced that they were investigating the attacks as a “terrorist incident.”
Here is a transcript of the March 22 exchange:
11:22 AM ET
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MATT BRADLEY [NBC NEWS]: But this is an incident that is obviously catching a city that's already been on edge. And everybody here in London, when they see these other incidents, these other terror attacks happening across Europe, they’re really just so much on edge waiting for the next foot to drop here.
And this is really going to have an impact on politics outside of that. You know, this is an issue that really is affecting so many people here in Britain. We've seen this rise of a kind of a right-wing movement here and throughout Europe. And this is only going to put wind in the sails of those who would say that this is an issue that needs to be looked at, that needs to be examined in terms of refugees – which is the conversation that's going on in the states.
But it should be noted, that MI-5, which is the domestic intelligence agency and police agency for the UK, they've come out and said that there is no terror link so far.
ALI VELSHI: Yeah, what they said here –
BRADLEY: And this is something obviously that they’re going to be investigating.
ALI VELSHI: Yeah, good point. They’re saying that it's too early to say, certainly, that it isn't, they’re still trying to get it locked down. Matt, stand by.
BRADLEY: Too early to say, right.
VELSHI: Stand by for me, Matt, because you’ve got great information for us.
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