A man who climbed the lower sections of Big Ben’s Elizabeth Tower at London’s Palace of Westminster early Saturday was arrested after spending 16 hours on the structure, British police confirmed Sunday.
Waving a Palestinian flag and shouting “Free Palestine,” the man drew attention from authorities and the public, according to British media reports.
The Metropolitan Police stated that they collaborated with agencies, including the London Fire Brigade, and deployed specialist officers to resolve the situation while minimizing risk to life.
Negotiators and emergency crews used a cherry picker to communicate with the man, who initially insisted he would descend “on his own terms.” He shared multiple videos on Instagram during his 16-hour standoff, suggesting he intended to remain for three and a half days.
Emergency teams engaged with him via crane before he ultimately climbed down.
The police were alerted to the incident at 07:24 GMT, leading to the closure of Westminster Bridge and the cancellation of parliamentary tours.
Following the man’s arrest, all roads were reopened, authorities confirmed.