A man with a Palestinian flag has climbed part of Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, central London. Police and crews from the London Fire Brigade are at the scene.
The man is live streaming from the tower on social media, shouting “I’m not going anywhere” and chanting “free, free Palestine”. Bridge Street, at the north end of Westminster Bridge, has been closed to allow emergency services to resolve the incident.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “At 7.24am on Saturday March 8 officers were alerted to a man climbing up the Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament. Officers are at the scene working to bring the incident to a safe conclusion. They are being assisted by the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service.”
A witness posted a video on social media showing a number of emergency service vehicles parked outside the Palace of Westminster. They wrote: “Good morning from Westminster Bridge where just before 8am a barefoot man with a Palestine flag climbed up part of the Elizabeth Tower. The road is closed.”
The man remained there all day and into the evening, despite the efforts of emergency crews to try and persuade him to get down.
We will be closing the live blog down but will be bringing you more from 7am.
Man climbs Big Ben’s Elizabeth Tower
Protest expected to go on into the night
The protester who has been high up on the Houses of Parliament since early this morning looks set to remain there this evening.
The pre-palestine activist has refused negotiater’s pleas to come down, insisting that he is safe – something emergency crews disagree with.
The man has been seen eating snacks and is reported to have been offered hot drinks in a bid to entice him back to ground.
Fears for the man as night draws in
There are growing concerns about the suitability of the mans clothes as night begins to close in.
Although temperatures are expected to be warmer than they have been throughout the week, it is not believed that the man is wearing suitable clothes for night outside.
He has remained bare foot throughout the day and has a thin jacket and trousers on.
Temperatures will be around 9 degrees this evening.
No sign of progress
Big Ben has just chimed for 9pm and there is still no sign that the protester will be coming down any time soon.Emergency service personnel are still in a crane attempting to talk him down.
Man tells police they are ‘putting him in danger’
The man currently perched atop Big Ben’s Elizabeth Tower has told police to leave him alone or risk putting him in danger.
Police are attempting to talk the pro-Palestine protester down to safety but have had little success in the 13 hour standoff.
The man insists he is safe and said: “I will come down on my own terms, I have said this. But right now I am saying I am safe.
“If you come towards me you are putting me in danger and I will climb higher.”
A second crane has been raised
A second crane has been raised carrying emergency service crew who also appear to be speaking to the protester.
The crew are attempting to talk down the protester who has been on the Houses of Parliament for nearly 12 hours
(Image: Getty)
Protester has ‘supplies for a long time’
Speaking on his social media footage, the protester says that he has enough supplies to stay up there for “some time”.
Emergency Crews attempt to talk the man down
Emergency crews are back in the crane at Big Ben and are attempting to talk down the protester.
They have tried repeatedly throughout the day to convince the pro-Palestine prostester down.
Fears for mans safety remain
Members from London Ambulance Service’s hazardous area response team (HART) are on the scene at Big Ben and can be seen wearing green helmets.
HART is a specialist team trained to provide life-saving medical care in complex and challenging environments.
‘You’re going to have to come down at some point’
Specialist negoitators aboard a fire service hoist are attempting to reason with the barefoot protester.
The standoff is now into its ninth hour with no sign of it coming to an end anytime soon.
The protesters Instagram is full of positive comments with many people thanking him and telling him to “stay safe”.
On X, views are more mixed, with many suggesting that the emergency services leave him “until he gets bored or hungry”.
(Image: Getty)
Social media footage shows several emergency service vehicles on scene
Pictures on X show police cars, fire engines and ambulances on the scene as the pro-Palestine protester reamins high up on the Houses of Parliament.
Pro-Palestine protesters shout encouragement to man
Pro-Palestine protesters have gathered on the perimeter of the cordon to shout words of encouragement to the protester who remains high up on the Houses of Parliament after climbing Elizabeth Tower
(Image: Getty)
The man remains on the tower, six hours later
There is no indication when this will end as the man remains on the Elizabeth Tower.
An aerial ladder platform has been lifted up several times towards the man to negotiate with him.
Bridge Street and Westminster Bridge remain closed and large crowds have gathered at the edge of the cordon.
Parliamentary tours cancelled as man remains metres up Elizabeth Tower
Parliamentary tours have been cancelled on Saturday as a result of the incident.
A Parliamentary spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident on the Parliamentary Estate this morning, which is being handled by the Metropolitan Police, assisted by the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service.
“Parliament takes security extremely seriously, however we do not comment on the specifics of our security measures or mitigations.
“As a result of this incident, tours of the Parliamentary Estate today have unfortunately had to be cancelled.”
Man remains in place and road still closed
It has been nearly three hours since the man was first reported to have climbed the Elizabeth Tower, and he is still there.
He continues to live stream on social media.
Road closures also remain in place.
Blood covering part of tower
Footage shows the man has sustained injuries with blood pouring from his feet onto the building.
Image from the livestream
Footage recorded from the perspective of the man shows the authorities on the street.
The recording also shows the man barefoot.
A snapshot from the protester’s livestream (Image: @free_all.of.us/Instagram)
Pictures from the scene
Pictures from the scene this morning show at least nine emergency service vehicles lining up on the street.
Pictures from the scene at Westminster Bridge (Image: George Cracknell Wright)
Pictures from the scene at Westminster Bridge (Image: George Cracknell Wright)
‘I’m not going anywhere’
The man has been livestreaming from the tower on social media, shouting “I’m not going anywhere” and chanting “free, free Palestine”.
When authorties tried to negotiate with him, he shouted “I’m going higher, if you come closer”.
The man is still there
The man remains on the building, having been there for over two hours after the police were first called at 7.24am.
Firefighters are at the scene
A spokesman for London Fire Brigade (LFB) said: “Firefighters are responding alongside the Metropolitan Police Service to reports of a person scaling the Palace of Westminster.”Crews from Lambeth, Chelsea, Soho and Islington fire stations have been deployed, LFB added.
Bridge Street closed
Bridge Street, at the north end of Westminster Bridge, has been closed in both directions, between Parliament Square and Westminster Bridge, to allow emergency services to resolve the incident.
The Met Police are working to resolve the incident
A Met Police spokesperson said: “At 7.24am on Saturday March 8 officers were alerted to a man climbing up the Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament.
“Officers are at the scene working to bring the incident to a safe conclusion. They are being assisted by the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service.”
Man holding Palestinian flag climbs Palace of Westminster
Police surround the Palace of Westminster as man has climbed up the tower which houses Big Ben.
The man has been seen standing on a ledge holding a Palestinian flag.
