A pro-Palestine activist from Westcliff-on-Sea has been charged after a high-profile protest that saw him scale London’s iconic Big Ben, prompting a 16-hour emergency response.
Emergency services were first alerted at 07:24 GMT on Saturday after reports emerged of a man who had climbed the Elizabeth Tower at the Palace of Westminster, clutching a Palestinian flag.
The protester, identified as 29-year-old Daniel Day of Palmerston Road in Westcliff-on-Sea, had managed to breach parliamentary security before making his daring ascent up the historic clock tower. Once perched on a ledge, he unfurled the Palestinian flag and repeatedly shouted ‘Free Palestine’ to crowds gathered below.
16-hour emergency operation
The dramatic protest triggered a major emergency response, with police, firefighters, and paramedics arriving at the scene in an attempt to bring the situation under control.
London Fire Brigade deployed an aerial ladder platform to gain access to the tower, while specialist police negotiators engaged in protracted discussions with the protester, urging him to come down safely. However, the activist refused to comply for more than 15 hours, leaving emergency crews on high alert throughout the day and into the night.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson explained the complexity of the situation, saying: “This has been a protracted incident due to the specifics of where the man was located and the need to ensure the safety of our officers, the individual, and the wider public.
“We worked with other agencies, including the London Fire Brigade, and deployed specialist officers to bring this incident to a close as quickly as possible whilst minimising risk to life.”
After hours of negotiation, the protest was finally brought to an end at midnight, when he was safely removed from the tower and taken into custody. He has since been charged with causing a public nuisance and trespassing on a protected site. He remains in custody and is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Security concerns
The protest has sparked serious concerns over security at one of the UK’s most heavily guarded locations. Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty has demanded answers over how Day managed to breach parliamentary security so easily.
“Every day in parliament, I see dozens of armed police officers patrolling Portcullis House and the parliamentary estate. Where were they today?” he questioned.
“On Monday, there needs to be a full explanation to MPs and staff as to how this protester was able to evade security so easily.”
Wider context of the protest
Daniel Day’s high-profile demonstration comes amid ongoing global protests in response to the conflict in Gaza, with pro-Palestine demonstrations taking place across major cities in the UK. This latest act of direct action highlights the lengths some activists are willing to go to in order to make their voices heard.
As the case moves through the court, questions are likely to be raised about the security lapses that allowed the protest to happen.