Emergency Services Respond to Incident at Palace of Westminster
Police have closed Westminster Bridge after a man was seen scaling the Elizabeth Tower, also known as Big Ben, while waving a Palestinian flag.
Footage circulating on social media early Saturday morning shows the barefoot individual sitting on a ledge halfway up the tower, shouting “Free Palestine” to passers-by below.
Police and Emergency Crews at the Scene
Emergency services were called to the Palace of Westminster at 7:24am on Saturday, March 8, prompting the closure of Bridge Street, located at the north end of Westminster Bridge.
A Met Police spokesperson confirmed officers were working to safely resolve the situation, stating:
“At 7:24am on Saturday, March 8, 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.”
BREAKING: A man has climbed the Elizabeth Tower at the Palace of Westminster in London. https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/MCjbn820rp
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 8, 2025
Rescue Operation Underway
A video posted on X (formerly Twitter) shows a cherry picker raised to the same height as the man, with three people on the crane engaging with him.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, and further updates are expected as they work to safely bring the incident to a close.
