UPDATE - British premier calls allegations about BBC presenter 'shocking and concerning’

ADDS FRESH ALLEGATIONS ABOUT BBC PRESENTER

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called recent allegations against a BBC presenter "shocking and concerning," local media reported Tuesday.

Speaking on the way to a NATO summit in Lithuania, Sunak expressed dismay and unease over allegations raised by The Sun newspaper concerning the unnamed presenter, who allegedly paid a teenager thousands of British pounds in exchange for sexually explicit photos.

He said the government has received assurances from the BBC that they are conducting a "rigorous and swift" investigation into the matter.

Sunak said it was important to give the BBC and police the necessary space to reach a resolution while investigating the situation.

He added that his aides had not shared with him the identity of the presenter, despite their widespread online identification.

- Fresh allegations

A person in their early 20s told BBC News that they feel threatened by the BBC presenter at the center of the row over payment for sexually explicit photos.

The individual initially received an anonymous message from the male presenter on a dating app. They claimed they were under pressure to meet up, but never did.

After the young person hinted at the possibility of revealing the presenter's identity online, they received abusive and profanity-laden messages.

When approached by BBC News, the individual, who has no connection to the person mentioned in The Sun's story about payments for photos, said they had been frightened by the presenter's influential position.

The menacing and bullying content of the messages, which BBC News has independently verified, deeply alarmed the young person, leaving them in a state of fear.

These fresh allegations concerning the presenter's behavior raise further concerns about his conduct.

BBC News has made direct contact with the presenter and his lawyer regarding the latest accusations, but no response has been received so far.

The BBC has come forward to defend its handling of the internal investigation into the allegations surrounding one of its presenters.

During a press conference, BBC director general Tim Davie acknowledged that the presenter was not approached for questioning until last Thursday, a significant delay of seven weeks from the initial complaint made to the corporation.

In light of the ongoing developments, the BBC has decided to halt its investigation into the matter while the police conduct their own probe.

Due to concerns about potential defamation and privacy breaches, the presenter in question is currently not being named.