Man Climbs Big Ben Holding Palestinian Flag, Threatens to Climb Higher
Westminster Bridge Shut as Emergency Services Attempt Rescue
A barefoot protester remains perched on Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) after nearly six hours, holding a Palestinian flag, as emergency services work to bring the situation to a safe resolution.
The man climbed the tower at around 7:00 am on Saturday, March 8, prompting a major police and fire brigade response.
Road Closures and Disruptions Across Westminster
- Westminster Bridge has been closed in both directions since early this morning.
- Five bus routes (3, 11, 12, 148, 453) have been diverted.
- One exit at Westminster Tube station is closed, though train services remain unaffected.
- Parliamentary tours have been cancelled for the day.
A spokesperson for Parliamentary Security said:
“We are aware of an incident on the Parliamentary Estate, which is being handled by the Metropolitan Police, assisted by the London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service. Parliament takes security extremely seriously, but we do not comment on specific security measures.”
Protester Injured and Threatens to Climb Higher
The protester, dressed in black clothing, has reportedly injured his foot and is bleeding, according to images and videos circulating online.
In a live-streamed Instagram video, he threatened to climb even higher if police “weaponised horses” to control the growing crowd of pro-Palestinian supporters gathered in Parliament Square.
A security expert, Professor Anthony Glees, told Sky News:
“I’m very surprised this was even possible. Parliament is one of the most surveilled locations in Europe. This could have been an inside job.”
Firefighters Attempt to Talk Him Down
At around 10:00 am, a London Fire Brigade cherry picker was deployed, with three emergency responders lifted up to speak to the man using a megaphone.
A woman speaking to the protester urged him to come down, saying:
“Your message has been heard – ‘Free Palestine’ – but at some point, you have to come down.”
The man remains defiant.
Growing Crowd of Pro-Palestinian Protesters
The demonstration outside Big Ben comes just hours before a planned pro-Palestine protest near the BBC headquarters in Portland Place at 1:00 pm.
Videos from the scene show supporters cheering him on, chanting “Free Palestine”, and waving flags.
Met Police Statement
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said:
“At 7:24 am on Saturday, March 8, officers were alerted to a man climbing Elizabeth Tower. Officers remain at the scene, working to bring the incident to a safe conclusion. They are being assisted by the London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service.”
Ongoing Security Concerns
The incident has raised concerns over how the protester managed to evade security and climb the tower. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether any arrests have been made or what charges the individual may face.
