Networks’ initial coverage of London terror attack excludes Islam

The machete attack that left a British soldier dead on the streets of London on Wednesday included attackers shouting, “Allahu akbar,” but the main television broadcast networks failed to reference Islam in their initial coverage.

NewsBusters reports that the evening broadcasts on ABC, CBS and NBC all used the word ’terrorism’ but failed to provide any further context on the attackers’ motivations.

Scott Pelley of CBS noted that the London attackers said, “God is great,” but gave no mention of Islam. Likewise, Diane Sawyer on ABC told viewers there was an inquiry into whether or not the attackers had ties to terrorist groups and then added, “Officials in the United States and the United Kingdom are studying the meaning” of a video by one of the attackers.