A man who scaled Big Ben's Elizabeth Tower in London on Saturday morning, waving a Palestinian flag and shouting "Free Palestine," was arrested after spending 16 hours on the landmark, British police confirmed on Sunday, report Reuters, AFP/ KT.
The man, who remained barefoot on a ledge several meters up the iconic tower, was eventually persuaded to descend after negotiations with emergency crews. The Metropolitan Police worked closely with the London Fire Brigade and other agencies to bring the situation to a peaceful end while minimizing risk to life. Negotiators, using a megaphone, communicated with the individual, who earlier told them he would come down "on his own terms."
The incident, which began at 0724 GMT, led to the closure of Westminster Bridge and the cancellation of parliamentary tours, as reported by Sky News. The area around Big Ben was cordoned off as emergency crews employed a crane to safely retrieve the man. Supporters gathered behind the police line, chanting "Free Palestine" and calling the protester a "hero."
While negotiators expressed concerns about the man's well-being, particularly regarding an injury to his foot and insufficient clothing as temperatures dropped, he ultimately agreed to descend. Images from the scene showed a cherry picker transporting him to waiting emergency personnel.
The protest has sparked reactions from various quarters, including from Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who questioned how the protester was able to bypass security so easily despite heavy police presence at Parliament.
Earlier on Friday, pro-Palestinian activists had also targeted a golf resort owned by former U.S. President Donald Trump in Scotland, spray-painting "Gaza is not 4 sale" as part of their ongoing protests.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
