Sissons joined ITN in 1964 , working his way up to the role of journalist . He was wounded by gunfire whilst covering the Biafran War in 1968 , sustaining severe nerve damage in his left leg . After recovering from his injuries , he became ITN 's Industrial Editor , covering many high-profile industrial disputes during the 1970s . In 1976 , Sissons joined the list of presenters of ITN 's lunchtime News at One bulletin , alternating with Leonard Parkin . He also co-presented ITN 's election night programmes in 1983 ( with Sir Alastair Burnet and Martyn Lewis ) and in 1987 ( with Burnet and Alastair Stewart ) . In 1982 , Sissons , along with Trevor McDonald and Sarah Hogg , presented the first edition of Channel 4 News . He remained on the programme for seven years , anchoring the only debate between National Union of Mineworkers leader Arthur Scargill and National Coal Board leader Ian MacGregor during the Miners ' Strike . He was also the presenter on the night of the Lockerbie bombing in December 1988 . In early 1989 , Sissons received a death threat following his interview of an Iranian representative as part of the reaction surrounding the publication of '' The Satanic Verses '' , with the fatwa covering Salman Rushdie extended to cover him as well . Sissons left ITN in 1989 to join the BBC
Lockerbie bombing
Pan Am Flight 103
Peter Sissons