A pro-Palestinian protestor climbed Elizabeth Tower, home to London’s iconic Big Ben clock, on Saturday, gripping a Palestinian flag as stunned passersby looked on. The barefoot protester prompted witnesses to call local authorities, leading to a major police response.
Multiple police units arrived at the scene, blocking off the area as crowds gathered to watch the unusual incident. According to the Daily Mail, the protest triggered a "massive emergency response," with rescue teams deploying a crane to bring the man down safely.
(Video: SkyNews)
A police spokesperson said authorities received the first report at 7:24 am local time and were working to bring the situation to a “safe conclusion” with assistance from London’s fire and rescue services. As part of the response, Bridge Street, located at the northern end of Westminster Bridge, was closed to traffic.
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Videos filmed by onlookers captured the protester shouting, “I’m not going anywhere” and calling to “free Palestine.” Witness Luke Whelan told the Daily Mail, “I was cycling to work when I saw him climbing up Big Ben. It looked like he was on a video call or livestreaming. He seemed pretty calm up there, like Spider-Man.”