A man was detained early Sunday morning after making his way up the iconic Big Ben tower, part of the Palace of Westminster located in central London. The climber, who was barefoot, also carried a Palestinian flag, signifying a demonstration.
The individual situated himself on a ledge several meters above the ground on Elizabeth Tower, the structure housing Big Ben. Following a lengthy dialogue with negotiators, he eventually disembarked from the tower past midnight onto a cherry picker, proceeding to enter a waiting ambulance.
Throughout Saturday, the incident caused significant traffic disruptions around the Palace of Westminster as emergency teams endeavored to approach the climber. Negotiators utilized a fire brigade ladder platform multiple times in attempts to communicate and persuade the man to come down safely.
As part of the security measures, both Westminster Bridge and an adjacent street were closed off for a large portion of the day. Emergency vehicles populated the area as onlookers gathered. Authorities also restricted pedestrian access to Parliament Square. Nearby, a small group of supporters expressed solidarity by chanting “Free Palestine” from behind police barricades.
Due to the situation, officials decided to cancel tours of the Houses of Parliament. The Metropolitan Police later confirmed the individual had been apprehended.
In a statement, the police explained, “This has been a protracted incident due to the specifics of where the man was located and the need to ensure the safety of our officers, the individual, and the wider public.”
