A man was seen climbing the iconic Elizabeth Tower while waving a flag, leading to a large-scale emergency response in central London.
Emergency services cordoned off the area surrounding Big Ben in London on Saturday morning following an incident involving a man who climbed the 96-metre high Elizabeth Tower, which houses the iconic clock and bell. The alert was raised at 7.24am, prompting a swift response from police and fire services.
According to a Metropolitan Police spokesperson, “Officers are at the scene working to bring the incident to a safe conclusion. They are being assisted by the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service.” The spokesperson confirmed that Bridge Street, located at the north end of Westminster Bridge, is closed to facilitate the emergency services’ response to the situation.
Eyewitness accounts describe a barefoot man who appeared calm while perched several metres up the structure, waving a Palestinian flag. Luke Whelan, an SEO editor for MailOnline, provided insight into the scene, stating, “I was cycling to work when I noticed him climbing up Big Ben. He looked like he was live streaming himself or on a video call or something. I assumed he was a free-runner influencer as he seemed very relaxed up there.”
Images circulating on social media captured the moment, with the man standing on a ledge of the Elizabeth Tower while onlookers watched from behind the police cordon. The London Fire Brigade confirmed their involvement, with a spokesperson noting, “Firefighters are responding alongside the Metropolitan Police Service to reports of a person scaling the Palace of Westminster.” The Brigade was initially notified about the incident at 7.32am, and firefighters from several stations—including Lambeth, Chelsea, Soho, and Islington—were dispatched to the scene.
As the situation unfolded, a significant presence of at least nine emergency service vehicles was observed lining Bridge Street in central London, highlighting the authorities’ response to ensure safety amid the unfolding drama.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.gbnews.com/news/pro-palestine-protester-big-ben-police-shutdown-westminster-bridge – This URL corroborates the incident involving a pro-Palestine protester climbing Big Ben and the subsequent police response, including the closure of Westminster Bridge.
- https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-845194 – This article supports the details of the incident, including the man’s actions and the involvement of emergency services.
- https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/news/2025/03/ – This URL would typically provide information from the London Fire Brigade about their response to incidents, although specific details about this event may not be available without direct access to their news archives.
- https://www.met.police.uk/news/ – The Metropolitan Police Service’s news page would likely contain updates or press releases about significant incidents like the Big Ben climb, though specific details might require searching their archives.
- https://www.londonambulance.nhs.uk/news/ – This URL would be relevant for information from the London Ambulance Service regarding their involvement in emergency responses, though specific details about this incident might not be readily available.
- https://www.parliament.uk/about/visiting/parliamentary-estate/ – This URL provides general information about the Palace of Westminster, which houses Big Ben, but does not directly address the incident.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is very recent, dated March 8, 2025, indicating it is current and not recycled news.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Quotes from official spokespersons and eyewitnesses are included, but the earliest known references for these quotes are not verified beyond the provided narrative.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Guardian, a well-known and reputable publication.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The incident described is plausible given the context of emergency services responding to such events. However, specific details like the man’s identity or motivations are not provided.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be a recent and credible report of an incident at Big Ben, supported by quotes from authorities and an eyewitness. The source is highly reliable, and the incident is plausible given the context.
