The BBC’s Andrew Neil has launched an astonishing invective against the “loser Jihadists” who carried out terror attacks in Paris a week ago.
The Scots presenter famous for his no-nonsense grilling of politicians pulled no punches as he opened his This Week programme on Thursday night, condemning the attackers for their “death cult barbarity that would shame the Middle Ages”.
Comparing cultures, he reels off a long list of French poets, artists and philosophers before ridiculing the “Islamist scumbags” who believe “the future belongs to them.”
He warns: “Whatever atrocities you are currently capable of committing, you will lose.”
This Week is known for its irreverent nature, but the force of Neil’s comments still left many startled.
While he was praised by some viewers for his strident views, others accused him of racism and of producing a “hate speech”.
Neil later defended his outburst on Twitter, saying he was attacking Islamist violence and not Islam itself “with which I have no quarrel”.
@AEJKhalil @bbcthisweek Never used the word Islam, numpty. Said Islamist … very different.
— Andrew Neil (@afneil) November 20, 2015
@lidbid46 @bbcthisweek @vincemaple Islamist. Not Islamic, with which I have no quarrel.
— Andrew Neil (@afneil) November 20, 2015