Big Ben area closed off after man with Palestine flag scales building
The area around Big Ben in London has been cordoned off by emergency services after a man scaled one of the buildings in the Palace of Westminster holding a Palestine flag.
A barefoot man was filmed on Saturday morning holding a flag stood on a ledge up the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the famous clock.
BREAKING: An activist with a Palestine flag has scaled Big Ben, and is calling for the freedom of political prisoners including Palestine Action's #Filton18.
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) March 8, 2025
The 18 are in prison under counter-terror powers for allegedly costing Israel's weapons trade £millions in damages. pic.twitter.com/2CFqY0WjyK
A journalist at LBC reported that the protester had been on the Elizabeth Tower for almost three hours.
The man reportedly said “peaceful protesters are being brutally arrested” and “I’ve brought the protest to the so-called hub of democracy in the UK”.
Also on Saturday, Palestine Action campaigners spray-painted the clubhouse in Donald Trump's Turnberry golf course in Scotland and dug up some of the greens.
The words "Gaza is not 4 sale" was painted on the grass.
"Palestine Action rejects Donald Trump’s treatment of Gaza as though it were his property to dispose of as he likes," a spokesperson said.
"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."