Emergency services respond after man with Palestinian flag climbs up Big Ben tower

A view of a man with a Palestine flag after he climbed up Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben, at the Palace of Westminster, in London, Saturday, March 8, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP

Emergency services were called to the Palace of Westminster in London on Saturday (March 8, 2025) after a man holding a Palestinian flag climbed up Big Ben tower, police said.

Photos show the barefoot man standing on a ledge several metres up Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben.

Westminster Bridge and a nearby bridge were closed, and several emergency services vehicles were at the scene as crowds looked on from behind a police cordon.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were at the scene “working to bring the incident to a safe conclusion,” alongside firefighters and ambulance services.

Three emergency workers were lifted up on a fire brigade ladder platform and were seen using a megaphone to speak to the man on the ledge.

Officials said tours of the Houses of Parliament were cancelled Saturday because of the incident.