Man Scales Elizabeth Tower in London Holding Palestinian Flag

Emergency services respond as a barefoot man climbs Big Ben's tower, prompting road closures and police efforts to resolve the situation safely.

A man climbed the Elizabeth Tower at the Palace of Westminster early Saturday morning, carrying a Palestinian flag.
Metropolitan Police were alerted to the incident at 7:24 AM and are working with the London Fire Brigade and Ambulance Service to ensure a safe resolution.
Video footage shared on social media shows the man barefoot and standing on a ledge several meters up the iconic tower, which houses Big Ben.
Bridge Street and the surrounding area near Westminster Bridge have been cordoned off, with at least nine emergency vehicles on the scene.
The incident follows heightened tensions surrounding recent pro-Palestinian protests in London, some of which have faced restrictions under the Public Order Act.