The BBC's director general, Tony Hall, has been receiving alleged 'death threats' over his decision to fire former Top Gear presenter, Jeremy Clarkson. The alleged threat was send to Hall via email, after dropping Clarkson for physically assaulting a BBC producer.
Both BBC Entertainment News and The Mail on Sunday have reported that the Met Police are investigating the email, with Lord Hall and his wife under 24 hour security from their home in Oxfordshire. According to the Met Police the email is said to have been sent from outside the UK, a Met spokesman said; "Police in Westminster are investigating an allegation of threats to kill".
The report was made to the police on Wednesday 25th March. No arrests have yet been made but inquiries are continuing to establish exactly where the email was sent from.
Lord Hall made the decision to drop Clarkson from his contract after the loud mouthed presenter was involved in an assault with producer Oisin Tymon after the hotel that Clarkson and co were filming in failed to provide hot food after their days work. Producer Tymon did not press charges despite suffering a split lip and it has been said that Clarkson himself reported the incident to BBC bosses, leading to initial suspension. Lord Hall then made the decision to officially end Clarkson's contract ensuring fans that the decision was not made lightly but reminded them that "a line had been crossed".
Ever since news of his departure for the BBC and highly popular motoring show Top Gear, Clarkson fans have taken to social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook to rally behind Clarkson and his co-hosts, James May and Richard Hammond. As a result, over a million people signed an online petition for Clarkson's reinstatement.
It has been reported that the alleged email was sent the same day as Hall's announcement. Hall hasn't been the only one under fire for his decision as producer Tymon has also been the victim to viscous online trolls. Clarkson has since asked his fans to restrain from making online threats or comments.
