Palestinian flag protester climbs Big Ben, arrested after midnight descent 

A man who climbed London's Big Ben and spent hours perched on the historic clock tower while holding a Palestinian flag was arrested shortly after descending just after midnight on Sunday, police confirmed.

Photos from the scene captured emergency crews using a cherry picker to bring him safely to the ground before taking him into custody.

According to London's Metropolitan Police, officers were first alerted to the incident around 7:00 a.m. GMT on Saturday. The man was arrested following what authorities described as a "protracted incident."

The man spent the day barefoot on a ledge several meters up the Elizabeth Tower, home to the iconic Big Ben, as emergency crews repeatedly urged him to come down, AFP reported.

Negotiators used a fire truck lift and a megaphone to communicate with him, but social media footage captured the man, wearing a hoodie and baseball cap, defiantly stating, "I will come down on my own terms."

Authorities voiced concerns about his apparent foot injury, noting “quite a lot of blood” and the risk of exposure as temperatures dropped after nightfall. AFP journalists at the scene also observed the man bleeding from his foot.

A crowd gathered behind a police cordon, with supporters chanting "Free Palestine" and "You are a hero."

The incident prompted road closures, including Westminster Bridge, and led Parliament to cancel scheduled tours. Westminster police later confirmed all roads had reopened.

The security breach sparked criticism, with Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty questioning how the protester had bypassed 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 posted on X, calling for a full explanation.

The stunt followed another pro-Palestinian protest on Friday night, when activists vandalized U.S. President Donald Trump’s golf resort in Scotland, spray-painting “GAZA IS NOT 4 SALE” in massive white letters across the lawn.

The activist group Palestine Action claimed responsibility, calling it a direct response to the U.S. administration’s support for Israel. Police Scotland confirmed an investigation was underway after receiving a report of damage.