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Man climbs Palace of Westminster tower with Palestinian flag Man climbs Palace of Westminster tower with Palestinian flag
(about 3 hours later)
Emergency services are at the Palace of Westminster where a man has climbed the Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big BenEmergency services are at the Palace of Westminster where a man has climbed the Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben
Emergency services have been called to the Palace of Westminster, where a man has scaled one of the buildings carrying a Palestinian flag. A man who climbed up Big Ben's Elizabeth Tower carrying a Palestinian flag has yet to come down, despite emergency services negotiating with him for many hours.
A barefoot man was seen standing on a ledge several metres up Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben. The barefoot man made his way onto a ledge several metres up the tower at the Palace of Westminster on Saturday morning.
The Met Police said officers were called to the tower at 07:24 GMT on Saturday. The Met Police said officers were called to the tower at 07:24 GMT. The incident has led to the closure of Westminster Bridge and the cancellation of Parliament tours.
"Officers are at the scene working to bring the incident to a safe conclusion," the force said. The intruder filmed his climb and said that he was protesting against "police repression and state violence".
The man climbed Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben, on Saturday morning
A man with a Palestine flag speaks into a phone as he stands on the Elizabeth TowerA man with a Palestine flag speaks into a phone as he stands on the Elizabeth Tower
At least nine emergency service vehicles lined Bridge Street in central London as crowds looked on from beyond a police cordon.
Three emergency personnel were lifted several metres up on a fire brigade aerial ladder platform at around 10:00 GMT, with one person using a megaphone to speak to the man on the ledge.
The incident began when the man got into the grounds of Parliament, walked up some steps, quickly climbed onto a railing, and up the side of Elizabeth Tower.
Crews were called to the tower at 07:24 GMT on SaturdayCrews were called to the tower at 07:24 GMT on Saturday
At least nine emergency service vehicles lined Bridge Street in central London and crowds looked on from beyond a police cordon.
At around 10:00 GMT, three emergency personnel were lifted several metres up on a fire brigade aerial ladder platform, with one person using a megaphone to speak to the man on the ledge.
The intruder said as he filmed his climb that he was protesting against "police repression and state violence".
After he got into the grounds of Parliament, he walked up some steps, quickly climbed onto a railing, and up the side of Elizabeth Tower.
At one point he took his shoes off to enable him to climb higher to a ledge. He injured his feet, and patches of blood could be seen on the stonework of the tower.At one point he took his shoes off to enable him to climb higher to a ledge. He injured his feet, and patches of blood could be seen on the stonework of the tower.
The man was spotted within minutes by police on the ground, who asked if he was able to get down safely. He responded: "I'm safe."The man was spotted within minutes by police on the ground, who asked if he was able to get down safely. He responded: "I'm safe."
Photographs showed him sitting on the ledge with the flag and a keffiyeh scarf wrapped around the decorative stonework on the tower. Photographs throughout the day showed him sitting on the ledge with the flag and a keffiyeh scarf wrapped around the decorative stonework on the tower.
The man was still on the ledge when the platform was lowered at around 11:45 GMT. Crowds gathered behind police cordons to watch the incident unfold on Elizabeth Tower
Emergency service workers have been speaking to the man Emergency service workers were lifted on a fire brigade aerial ladder platform to talk to the man
Bridge Street, which is at the north end of Westminster Bridge, was closed to allow the emergency services to deal with the incident, police confirmed. Bridge Street, which is at the north end of Westminster Bridge, was closed to allow the emergency services to deal with the incident, along with Westminster Bridge.
Westminster Bridge was also closed, the Met said. It is understood one exit of Westminster Tube station was also closed, but there is no disruption to Tube services, and passengers could use other exits.
It is understood one exit of Westminster Tube station is closed, but there is no disruption to Tube services and passengers can use other exits. Tours of the Parliamentary Estate were also cancelled as emergency services responded to the incident.
Tours of the Parliamentary Estate have been cancelled as emergency services respond to the incident.
The parliamentary spokesperson said: "Parliament takes security extremely seriously, however, we do not comment on the specifics of our security measures or mitigations.The parliamentary spokesperson said: "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.""As a result of this incident, tours of the Parliamentary Estate today have unfortunately had to be cancelled."
Crowds looked on as emergency workers spoke to the man Tourists looked on in one of the busiest parts of London on a sunny Saturday afternoon
A spokesman for London Fire Brigade (LFB) said they were responding to the incident alongside the police. A spokesman for London Fire Brigade (LFB) said crews from Lambeth, Chelsea, Soho and Islington fire stations were responding to the incident alongside the police.
Crews from Lambeth, Chelsea, Soho and Islington fire stations have been deployed, LFB said. The London Ambulance sent an ambulance crew, an incident response officer, and members of its hazardous area response team (HART) to the scene.
The London Ambulance added that it had sent an ambulance crew, an incident response officer, and members of its hazardous area response team (HART) to the scene.
Fire, ambulance and police crews were all deployed to the Palace of WestminsterFire, ambulance and police crews were all deployed to the Palace of Westminster
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