Man scales Big Ben holding Palestine flag as protesters gather below

A pro-Palestine protester scaled the clock tower of Big Ben on Saturday as demonstrators gathered on the streets below.

Daniel Day, 29, had flown the Palestine flag from a ledge on the Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben, after breaching security to climb over the fence.

He remained on the ledge, his feet visibly bloodied from the climb, for more than 16 hours before he was safely brought down by emergency services.

At around 6pm, he was lifted to the ground in a cherry picker and arrested.

Day, of Palmerston Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, was charged with intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance and trespassing on a protected site.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today.

Palestine protesters had planned to gather outside the BBC’s Broadcasting House in Portland Place on Saturday.

But Scotland Yard said it had imposed a Public Order Act to prevent the demonstration from gathering in the area as it risked causing “serious disruption” to Jewish people attending Shabbat services at a nearby synagogue.

The Central Synagogue is located in Great Portland Street, a few hundred yards from Broadcasting House in Portland Place.

Organisers moved the protest outside Downing Street, with many congregating in Parliament Square.

The Met also restricted protest activity near Parliament Square to prevent serious disruption, with Palestine protesters ordered to move between Bridge Street to Richmond Terrace.

In the afternoon, a large crowd gathered on the corner of Parliament Square, calling out their support for the protester on Big Ben. Some held signs reading: “Labour Tories BBC you show Russia’s crimes but hide Israel’s … why?”, and “hospital’s bombed, children murdered, civilians killed”.

Pictured top: Daniel Day, 29, scales Big Ben, waving a Palestinian flag (Picture: Martin Pope/ZUMA Press Wire)