It’s not at all weird and very easy to explain. The BBC positions itself as an impartial reporter. Anything that appears to be a judgement call by someone else is (quite rightly) put into quotes.
In this case, I would have simply left out the words “innocent victim “ myself, as it’s a bit odd - but that is the rationale.
The “BBC” has a long history of weird “quote style” No one “knows why”
I think it must be a spy code like those number stations
It’s not at all weird and very easy to explain. The BBC positions itself as an impartial reporter. Anything that appears to be a judgement call by someone else is (quite rightly) put into quotes.
In this case, I would have simply left out the words “innocent victim “ myself, as it’s a bit odd - but that is the rationale.