A man who scaled the Elizabeth Tower of Big Ben while carrying a flag of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) finally came down after remaining perched for over 16 hours above the Palace of Westminster.
The individual, who was barefoot, climbed onto a ledge several meters above the ground early on Shabbos morning. Emergency responders quickly arrived on the scene, using a crane to reach the man, and after the midnight chimes of Big Ben, the protester descended.
Throughout the standoff, the man told negotiators he would come down “on his own terms.” Later that evening, he posted a video on Instagram warning, “If you come towards me you are putting me in danger and I will climb higher.”
The protester filmed his climb and explained his motivations as a protest against “police repression and state violence.”
The Metropolitan Police were dispatched to the scene at 07:24 GMT. The incident caused significant disruptions, including the closure of Westminster Bridge and the cancellation of Parliamentary tours.
By around 10:00 GMT, emergency personnel had been lifted several meters in the air on an aerial ladder platform from the fire brigade, communicating with the man via a megaphone.
The negotiations continued throughout the day and into the night.
Photos taken during the standoff depicted the protester sitting on the ledge, holding the flag, and wrapping a traditional keffiyeh scarf around the tower’s decorative stonework.
Supporters, some of whom were positioned behind a police cordon on Victoria Embankment, cheered for the protester, shouting “Free Palestine” and “You Are A Hero,” according to the BBC.
To prevent further disruption, the Metropolitan Police imposed restrictions on protests near Parliament Square, redirecting pro-Palestinian Arab demonstrators from Bridge Street to nearby Richmond Terrace.
Both Bridge Street and Westminster Bridge were closed to allow emergency responders to carry out their work, and one exit from Westminster Tube station was temporarily shut down, although train services continued without interruption. Additionally, Parliamentary tours were canceled while emergency crews worked at the scene.
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