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Area around Big Ben closed as man with Palestinian flag climbs Elizabeth Tower Area around Big Ben closed as man with Palestinian flag climbs Elizabeth Tower
(about 3 hours later)
Pro-Palestine protesters also spray-painted clubhouse at Trump Turnberry golf course in Scotland overnightPro-Palestine protesters also spray-painted clubhouse at Trump Turnberry golf course in Scotland overnight
Emergency services have cordoned off the area surrounding Big Ben after a man scaled one of the buildings in the Palace of Westminster. Westminster Bridge remains closed to traffic after a six-hour standoff between emergency services and a protester who has scaled a building in the Houses of Parliament carrying the flag of Palestine.
Video on social media shows a barefoot man standing on a ledge holding a Palestinian flag several metres up Elizabeth Tower, which houses the Westminster clock and its world-famous bell. A large crowd gathered in Parliament Square to show their support for the man who climbed the Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben, on Saturday morning.
At least nine emergency service vehicles lined Bridge Street in central London and crowds looked on from beyond a police cordon. Emergency services used an aerial ladder platform outside the tower to raise people up towards the barefoot man in an attempt to coax him down.
At least nine fire and ambulance vehicles lined Bridge Street in central London and crowds looked on from beyond a police cordon.
A Met police spokesperson said: “At 7.24am on Saturday 8 March officers were alerted to a man climbing up the Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament.A Met police spokesperson said: “At 7.24am on Saturday 8 March 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.” “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.”
Bridge Street, which is at the north end of Westminster Bridge, was closed to allow the emergency services to deal with the incident, police said. It is understood one exit of Westminster station is also closed, but there is no disruption to tube services and passengers can use other exits. Bridge Street, at the north end of Westminster Bridge, was closed to allow the emergency services to deal with the incident, police said. It is understood one exit of Westminster station is also closed, but there is no disruption to tube services and passengers can use other exits.
A spokesman for the London fire brigade said: “Firefighters are responding alongside the Metropolitan Police service to reports of a person scaling the Palace of Westminster.” A spokesperson for the London fire brigade said: “Firefighters are responding alongside the Metropolitan police service to reports of a person scaling the Palace of Westminster.”
The LBC reporter Shivani Sharma reported that the protester had been on the Elizabeth Tower for almost three hours as of 10.20am. The man is reportedly saying “peaceful protesters are being brutally arrested” and “I’ve brought the protest to the so-called hub of democracy in the UK” to onlookers below. In the afternoon, a large crowd gathered on the corner of Parliament Square in support of the protester. Some held signs reading: “Labour Tories BBC you show Russia’s crimes but hide Israel's … why?”
Pro-Palestine activists also staged an action at one of Donald Trump’s golf courses in Scotland on Saturday. Palestine Action activists spray-painted the clubhouse at the Trump Turnberry resort and dug up some of the greens overnight. Reports suggested the protester had been overheard saying “peaceful protesters are being brutally arrested” and “I’ve brought the protest to the so-called hub of democracy in the UK” to onlookers below.
In a video the group posted on social medi, the words “Gaza is not 4 sale” are sprayed on the grass. The incident came amid a flurry of pro-Palestine protests launched across the country this weekend.
Activists targeted one of Donald Trump’s golf courses in Scotland on Saturday. Palestine Action supporters spray-painted the clubhouse at the Trump Turnberry resort and dug up some of the greens overnight.
In a video the group posted on social media, the words “Gaza is not 4 sale” are sprayed on the grass of the course.
The group said its action was a “direct response to the US administration’s stated intent to ethnically cleanse Gaza” after “having laid out plans to ‘clean out the whole thing’ and forcibly displace its population”.The group said its action was a “direct response to the US administration’s stated intent to ethnically cleanse Gaza” after “having laid out plans to ‘clean out the whole thing’ and forcibly displace its population”.
A spokesperson said: “Palestine Action rejects Donald Trump’s treatment of Gaza as though it were his property to dispose of as he likes. To make that clear, we have shown him that his own property is not safe from acts of resistance. We will continue to take action against US-Israeli colonialism in the Palestinian homeland.”A spokesperson said: “Palestine Action rejects Donald Trump’s treatment of Gaza as though it were his property to dispose of as he likes. To make that clear, we have shown him that his own property is not safe from acts of resistance. We will continue to take action against US-Israeli colonialism in the Palestinian homeland.”