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Man closes M1 in Leicestershire in apparent 'protest' Man closes M1 in Leicestershire in apparent 'protest'
(35 minutes later)
Thousands of motorists using the M1 have been disrupted by a man who has been camped on an information board gantry for more than 24 hours. Thousands of motorists using the M1 have been disrupted by a man who camped on an information board gantry for more than 24 hours.
Police said they do not know why he is up there, but photos show he has written a message on the gantry in what appears to be some kind of protest. Police said they did not know why he went up there, but photos show he wrote a message on the gantry in what appeared to be some kind of protest.
Negotiators from Leicestershire Police have been trying to get the man down since Sunday afternoon. Negotiators from Leicestershire Police had tried to get the man down since he went up at midday on Sunday.
The motorway remains closed southbound between junctions 23a and 22. They said he was "safely down" shortly after 16:00 BST on Monday.
The northbound carriageway has remained open throughout but traffic is heavy. The motorway was closed southbound between junctions 23a and 22 while police tried to get the man down.
Part of the man's message alleges that someone "tried 2 kill me", and he also refers to "2 murder attempts". Part of the man's message alleged that someone "tried 2 kill me", and he also refers to "2 murder attempts".
'Hundreds of thousands' affected'Hundreds of thousands' affected
ACC Phil Kay said: "We are doing everything we can to bring this situation to a safe conclusion as swiftly as possible but I am afraid at this stage the southbound carriageway must remain closed. Before the man came down, ACC Phil Kay said: "We are doing everything we can to bring this situation to a safe conclusion as swiftly as possible but I am afraid at this stage the southbound carriageway must remain closed.
"I appreciate that this remains an extremely frustrating situation for the many hundreds of thousands of motorists who have inevitably been caught up as a result of this road closure and its knock-on effects on all the other major routes in the midlands region and beyond.""I appreciate that this remains an extremely frustrating situation for the many hundreds of thousands of motorists who have inevitably been caught up as a result of this road closure and its knock-on effects on all the other major routes in the midlands region and beyond."
ACC Kay added that police are trying to "persuade the man to come down safely" and are "exploring a range of different options involving other agencies". Diversions were in place since Sunday lunchtime, but police said these alternatives routes have inevitably became "highly congested" too.
The man has been on the gantry since about midday on Sunday.
Diversions have been in place since Sunday lunchtime, but police said these alternatives routes have inevitably become "highly congested" too.