Rupert Murdoch attacked in UK parliament

LONDON (Reuters) - A protester threw a plate of white foam at News Corporation Chairman Rupert Murdoch on Tuesday during a committee hearing in the British parliament into a hacking scandal at one of his newspapers.

Murdoch, 80, was not hurt and no doctor was required, a Reuters witness said. Murdoch's wife Wendi Deng, who was sitting behind him in the committee room, slapped the assailant and police rushed to arrest him.

A young man, wearing a checkered shirt and his face smeared in foam, was taken out of the room and placed in handcuffs.

The hearing was suspended and journalists and members of the public were asked to leave. It resumed 15 minutes later with both Rupert Murdoch and his son James present.

Murdoch appeared calm but had taken off the blue suit jacket that had been splashed in the attack.

Labor member of parliament Chris Bryant, who has led the campaign against News Corp over phone hacking, condemned the assault.

"It's just appalling. The whole point is that we've been trying to make sure that people are held responsible properly and decently," he added.

"To do that is just a contempt of parliament."

(Editing by Maria Golovnina)

(Reporting by Mohammed Abbas, Tim Castle and Neil Maidment)