A man who scaled London’s Big Ben and spent the day perched on the iconic clock tower holding a Palestinian flag was arrested after coming down shortly after midnight on Sunday, police confirmed.
Photos from the scene showed emergency crews using a cherry picker to transport the man safely to the ground.
The Metropolitan Police, who were alerted to the climber at around 0700 GMT on Saturday, said the man was arrested following the “protracted incident.”
Throughout the day, the man, barefoot and several meters above the ground, remained perched on a ledge of the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Big Ben clock bell. Despite being urged by emergency responders to descend, the man refused, with negotiators communicating with him using a megaphone from a fire truck lift. Footage posted on social media showed the individual, dressed in a hoodie and baseball cap, saying: “I will come down on my own terms.”
Negotiators also expressed concern over an injury to his foot, noting that there was “quite a lot of blood” and that his clothing wasn’t warm enough as temperatures dropped in the evening.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the man appeared to be bleeding from his foot during the standoff. Crowds gathered behind a police cordon, with some chanting “Free Palestine” and “You are a hero.”
The police closed off the surrounding area, including Westminster Bridge, and tours at the Houses of Parliament were canceled for the day. Westminster police later confirmed that all nearby roads had been reopened.
The incident raised questions about security measures, with Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty expressing concern on social media: “Every day in Parliament I see dozens of armed police officers patrolling Portcullis House and the parliamentary estate. Where were they today?” He called for a full explanation on Monday about how the protester had been able to bypass security so easily.
Meanwhile, on Friday night, pro-Palestinian protesters sprayed the message “GAZA IS NOT 4 SALE” in large white letters on the lawn of Donald Trump’s golf resort in Scotland. Police Scotland has confirmed they are investigating the damage.
