A man has been arrested after climbing Big Ben’s Elizabeth Tower at the Palace of Westminster in central London, staging a pro-Palestinian protest.
Emergency services were alerted at 07:24 GMT on Saturday, following reports of a protester scaling the iconic landmark while holding a Palestinian flag.
16-Hour Standoff Ends in Arrest
The barefoot protester reached a high ledge on the tower and refused to come down. Specialist officers, working alongside the London Fire Brigade, negotiated with him for over 16 hours.
Emergency crews eventually used a cherry picker to bring him down as Big Ben struck midnight. Once he reached the ground, Westminster Police arrested him.
Police described the operation as a “prolonged incident”, stating that public safety and officer security were paramount.
“This was a complex situation due to the individual’s position on the tower. We worked with partner agencies to resolve it as quickly as possible while minimising risk to life.” – Westminster Police
Parliamentary Disruption & Road Closures
The protest caused major disruptions in central London. Authorities closed Westminster Bridge, an exit at Westminster Underground Station, and Bridge Street.
Tours of the Parliamentary Estate were also cancelled in response. A Parliamentary spokesperson confirmed that the incident is under review.
Negotiations & Protester’s Defiant Stance
At around 10:00 GMT, three emergency responders were lifted towards the protester via a fire brigade aerial ladder platform. One negotiator used a megaphone in an effort to persuade him to descend.
As the standoff stretched into the night, the man remained defiant. In a video posted on Instagram, he insisted he would come down on his own terms.
“If you come towards me, you are putting me in danger, and I will climb higher,” he warned.
Photographs throughout the day showed him sitting on the ledge, draped in a Palestinian keffiyeh, with the flag wrapped around the decorative stonework of the tower.
Supporters Chant ‘Free Palestine’ as Police Impose Restrictions
A small group of pro-Palestinian supporters gathered behind a police cordon at Victoria Embankment, chanting “Free Palestine” and calling the protester a “hero”.
To prevent serious disruption, the Metropolitan Police imposed conditions on protest activity near Parliament Square, ordering demonstrators to relocate to a nearby street.
Authorities continue to assess security measures following the incident.
