Man with Palestinian flag scales London’s Big Ben clock tower
By AFP
March 8, 2025
Supporters below chanted 'Free Palestine' and 'You are a hero' - Copyright AFP STRINGER
A man with a Palestinian flag who climbed London’s Big Ben clock tower early on Saturday was still perched on the famous landmark after nightfall, even as emergency crews urged him to come down.
Police said they were first alerted shortly after 0700 GMT and the man has spent the day barefoot on a ledge several metres up the historic structure.
Crowds have been watching from behind a police cordon, with supporters chanting “Free Palestine” and “You are a hero.”
Negotiators boarded a fire truck lift and used a megaphone to speak with the man, but footage on social media showed him saying: “I will come down on my own terms.”
Police closed off the surrounding area including Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament cancelled tours.
AFP journalists at the scene earlier said the man appeared to be bleeding from his foot.
“Officers are at the scene working to bring the incident to a safe conclusion,” London Metropolitan Police force told AFP.
“They are being assisted by the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service.”
Pro-Palestinian protester climbs onto the UK parliament's tower
Emergency services were outside Palace of Westminster in London on Saturday after a man holding a Palestinian flag climbed onto Big Ben tower, police said.
A nearby street was closed and several emergency services vehicles were at the scene as crowds looked on from behind a police cordon up to the protester.
Photos showed the barefoot man standing on a ledge several meters up Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben.
The Metropolitan Police said officers were at the scene “working to bring the incident to a safe conclusion," alongside firefighters and ambulance services.
Three emergency workers were seen lifted up on a fire brigade ladder platform to try to speak to the man on the ledge.
No comments:
Post a Comment