Skip to content

Eurovision 2018: SuRie stage invader 'climbed into camera run'

Watch: A man interrupts the UK's Eurovision entry in Lisbon

The Eurovision Song Contest stage invader gained access to the stage by climbing into a camera run and going over a bridge, organisers have said.

The man interrupted the UK's singer SuRie, who finished third from bottom at the event in Lisbon on Saturday.

The European Broadcasting Union said an internal investigation was under way.

The EBU said he was pursued by security over the bridge, adding: "He was removed off stage after seven seconds and is being questioned by police."

The statement continued: "We take security very seriously and an investigation into what happened is already under way."

EPA SuRie performing at the Eurovision Song ContestEPA
The stage invader took the microphone off SuRie, before being dragged off stage

SuRie was singing her song Storm when a man with a rucksack ran onto the stage, grabbed her microphone, and appeared to say: "Nazis of the UK media, we demand freedom."

He was swiftly dragged off stage and SuRie continued performing the song.

'We all felt so sorry for SuRie'

It is thought the same man invaded the stage at the National Television Awards this year, and The Voice in 2017.

Presentational line break

More on Eurovision:

Presentational line break

SuRie was given the chance to perform again, but declined. The BBC said: "SuRie and her team are extremely proud of her performance and have together decided that there is absolutely no reason to perform the song again."

She later wrote on Twitter: "Well, I've always said anything can happen at Eurovision..."

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

On Sunday, she wrote: "I've been told the security agent who intervened last night is ok and thank goodness for that.

"Thank you everybody for your messages of love and support and huge congrats to @NettaBarzilai, I'm so, so proud of you x"

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

Netta, representing Israel, won the contest with 520 points, triggering jubilation in her home country.

Eurovision Song Contest 2018 highlights

Crowds celebrated in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square and Jerusalem's main open air market.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even imitated Netta's now-famous chicken dance in his own tribute to the winner, and confirmed that next year's contest would be held in Jerusalem.

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Presentational line break

Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].