Tower Bridge in London has been closed in both directions Monday morning after a man was spotted sitting on its railings, a day after a protester scaled the iconic Big Ben clock tower at the UK Parliament while carrying a Palestinian flag. It was still unclear what the motive for the latest incident in London was, and footage shown on social media did not have the man bearing any propaganda signs of flags.
"The bridge will reopen shortly. Thank you for your patience," the London police said after the man was brought down, without elaborating. "The man has safely come down from the railings on Tower Bridge."
Man climbs on Tower Bridge in London, police have to close it to traffic and pedestrians#Tower_Bridge #London #UK
?Tower Bridge in London is closed to traffic & pedestrians due to a report of a person climbing the structure.
. pic.twitter.com/fRoRA8mpy1— ⚡️? World News ?⚡️ (@ferozwala) March 10, 2025
The previous incident, at the Big Ben atop the UK Parliament's building, saw a barefoot demonstrator, dressed entirely in black, clinging to the side of the historic tower for several hours while emergency services attempted to communicate with him, according to CNN.
Metropolitan Police reported they were first alerted to the climber around 7:30 a.m. local time on Saturday. The protester's actions drew large crowds to Parliament Square, with authorities closing Westminster Bridge in both directions as a safety measure, significantly impacting central London traffic.
"The man had been arrested after the protracted incident," London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement on Sunday, confirming that all roads in the area have since reopened.
In a separate incident over the weekend, activists vandalized a Trump-owned golf course in Scotland. The group Palestine Action claimed responsibility, stating the action was "in response to the American administration's plans and threats to destroy, ethnically cleanse, and 'take over' the Palestinian Gaza Strip."
