Emergency services respond to a dramatic standoff as a man scales the Elizabeth Tower bearing a Palestinian flag, raising safety concerns with a mysterious red stain nearby.
Emergency services responded to a significant incident at the Palace of Westminster in London early on Saturday, March 8, 2025, when a man was seen scaling the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the iconic Big Ben. The Metropolitan Police received reports of the incident at 7:24 am, prompting a swift response from multiple agencies.
The protester, who appeared barefoot and carried a Palestinian flag, was captured in videos shared on social media while standing on a ledge several metres above ground. Eyewitness footage reveals him engaging with individuals on a cherry picker raised by the London Fire Brigade, who were attempting to communicate with him. The interactions included a conversation with a woman dressed in plain clothes, who urged him to come down, saying, “At some point you have to come down, how long do you think you are going to be there?” She also referenced his message, stating, “your message was to say ‘Free Palestine’.”
In a concerning detail, a large red stain resembling blood was observed on the tower around the protester’s feet, raising questions about the circumstances of his ascent and safety.
Police cordoned off the area surrounding Bridge Street, adjacent to Westminster Bridge, to facilitate the operation of emergency services. The London Fire Brigade described their involvement, stating that crews from four local fire stations—Lambeth, Chelsea, Soho, and Islington—had been deployed to respond to the situation.
As part of the efforts to bring the incident to a safe conclusion, at around 10 am, emergency personnel were raised to the protester’s level using an aerial ladder platform. The presence of at least nine emergency service vehicles lined the street, with a crowd gathered a safe distance away, observing the unfolding situation.
The protester’s actions come amidst a backdrop of rising tensions related to the Palestinian cause, as highlighted by statements from Palestine Action. In a separate incident, this group claimed responsibility for vandalising Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Scotland, stating, “Gaza is not for sale” in a protest against comments made by the US President regarding the region.
As the situation at the Palace of Westminster continues to develop, authorities are closely monitoring the scene with an emphasis on ensuring the safety of all involved. Further updates on this developing story are expected as emergency services work to resolve the incident.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/08/watch-pro-palestine-protester-scales-elizabeth-tower/ – This article corroborates the incident of a pro-Palestine protester scaling the Elizabeth Tower at the Palace of Westminster, highlighting the involvement of emergency services and the closure of Bridge Street.
- https://www.gbnews.com/news/pro-palestine-protester-big-ben-police-shutdown-westminster-bridge – GB News reports on the same incident, detailing the protester’s actions, the police response, and the deployment of emergency services, including the London Fire Brigade.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This source is mentioned as the original provider of the article, though it does not directly support specific claims without access to the content.
- https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/22/2024-07496/guidance-for-federal-financial-assistance – This URL does not directly relate to the incident but is included as part of the search results. It pertains to federal financial assistance guidelines.
- https://irp.fas.org/doddir/army/fm2-22-3.pdf – This document provides information on human intelligence operations but does not directly relate to the incident at the Palace of Westminster.
- https://www.courts.michigan.gov/4903ae/siteassets/publications/benchbooks/cvrb/cvrb.pdf – This PDF is related to crime victim rights and does not directly support any claims about the incident at the Palace of Westminster.
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 incident is reported as occurring on March 8, 2025, indicating it is a current event with no signs of being old or recycled news.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The quote from the woman urging the protester to come down is not verified against earlier sources, but given the context, it appears to be a direct quote from the incident. No earlier online references were found.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from a news aggregator (Google News), which typically compiles reports from various sources. However, the original source of the information is not specified, leading to uncertainty about its reliability.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The incident involves a protester with a Palestinian flag at the Palace of Westminster, which aligns with current geopolitical tensions and similar protests. The details provided are plausible and consistent with how such incidents are typically handled.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The incident appears to be a recent event with plausible details, but the lack of a specified original source reduces confidence in its reliability. Further verification is needed to confirm all aspects of the narrative.
