A man has been charged following a high-profile protest at Big Ben’s Elizabeth Tower, where he was seen climbing the iconic landmark and remaining perched on a ledge for more than 16 hours.
Daniel Day, of Palmerston Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, has been charged with intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance and trespassing on a protected site, the Metropolitan Police confirmed on Monday morning.
The dramatic incident began at around 7.20am on Saturday (March 8) when Day, barefoot and carrying a Palestinian flag, was spotted scaling the 96-metre-high clock tower at the Palace of Westminster. Witnesses reported seeing him seated on a ledge by 11.30am, prompting a large-scale emergency response.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police, alongside crews from London Fire Brigade and the Ambulance Service, rushed to the scene. An Aerial Ladder belonging to the London Fire Brigade was eventually used to safely remove the man from the tower just after midnight on Sunday.
The protest led to the closure of surrounding roads including Bridge Street and the northern end of Westminster Bridge, causing major disruption in the area. Tours of Elizabeth Tower were also cancelled for the day as authorities worked to resolve the situation.
Day has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court later today.
The incident comes amid increasing public demonstrations across the capital, with this protest drawing particular attention due to its location at one of the UK’s most iconic landmarks.
