After a lengthy questioning session, those in the committee room were given the chance to dash to the toilets when someone tied to throw a plate of foam over Rupert Murdoch.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14209268

So, that will be tomorrow’s headline, especially in the baser examples of the daily newspaper.

Oops, beat you to it by a minute...
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=14238

I know - I saw it when the forum returned me to the news page.

No pied him. They never got him, they only got the shoulder of his jacket.

Mark

Yes the attacker looked like he came off worst.

Yep. He certainly did.

Mark

One of the committee members complimented Murdoch on his resolve to return, and noted that his wife has a mean left hook.

It was a disgraceful breach of security. If that idiot was able to get into that room with his paper plate and foam then he could presumably have also got into that room with a weapon or a more corrosive method of attacking Mr Murdoch.

The idiot needs to face a proper police charge, not some apology of a charge such as "public order offence", and then a harsh punishment.

Whoever was in charge of security needs sacking.

I disagree. The fact that it was a paper plate with shaving foam or whipped cream meant that it would be unlikely to have been stopped by any more rigorous security. Don't forget that Portcullis House already has metal detectors on entry and quite frankly it showed up the weakness in security without endangering anyone. In fact the cameras were on the assailant for some time, admittedly while handcuffed, and only a single officer was in charge of him. So he was clearly not a public risk, and quite happily talking to the police. To punish him more harshly would require the state to go further down the road to a police state.

Should have just thrown a shoe.

That is a bit arabic though.

Jon Stewart’s perspective on this is amusing:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/ju ... daily-show

I've been really enjoying his coverage of this affair. Almost jealous of the US for having produced him.

I don't often find myself at odds with your thinking but on this occasion I do.

This incident was treated light heartedly by many in the press and news rooms. A bit of a laugh "pieing" a wealthy influential foreign businessman. But let's delve a little deeper.

Rupert Murdoch may be a powerful businessman but he is an old man. Anyone who saw his testimony would have seen that. He's not a British subject and as such had no obligation to appear before the Commons committee. He chose to do so.... possibly reluctantly but he chose to do so none the less and expressed his deep sorrow and regret at recent disclosures.

The idiot who attacked him could have had an ammonia or acid spray instead of his "pie". How would this country have looked had Mr Murdoch been assaulted in that manner and been in hospital today ?

Don't misunderstand me. I hold no torch for News International or the wealthy Murdoch family. I don't buy their newspapers and can't ever remember even reading NOTW. I'm just another guy who was sickenedby the revellation that Millie Dowler's phone was apparently hacked and voicemails interferred with while she was missing. It's only my opinion but I get the feeling that the same sickness and revulsion was felt by both Mr Murdoch senior and junior and also Mrs Brooks.

He left the country this afternoon in his (presumably) private jet. I'm pleased that he left unharmed and I don't suppose he'll be that happy to help with parliamentary or police investigations over here again.

Well if he triggered a heart attack or it had been something more dangerous, then yes it should be upgraded to Attempted Murder or manslaughter. Though that was not the intention. Also while he was doing this because to refuse would seriously erode his chances of buying Sky. Yes an element of humility was evident, and yes he might have been shocked at what was done in his name. Though he created that culture and management failed to notify him of any problems. As for Ms Brooks I think that she is more concerned that her career is possibly irreparably damaged. She was fortunately on holiday when everything happened, yet a culture of cover up ensured that this was going to blow up eventually.