Tower Bridge has been reopened after a man who scaled the London landmark brought traffic to a standstill – but has now come safely down.
The iconic crossing was closed after a man clambered up and perched on railings – days after a 16-hour stand-off involving a protester at the Elizabeth Tower.
Pictures and footage shared online today showed crowds gathering to look up at the man wearing a grey hooded top as he balanced on Tower Bridge
Among those witnessing the scene was someone who posted on X, formerly Twitter: ‘This dude just chilling on Tower Bridge right now. Traffic and boats all disrupted.’
Many people were seen taking photographs, while emergency services including firefighters arrived at the scene.
City Of London Police initially said: ‘Tower Bridge is closed to traffic and pedestrians due to a person who has scaled the railings. Please avoid the area where possible.’
The force has now posted on X: ‘The man has safely come down from the railings on Tower Bridge. The bridge will reopen shortly. Thank you for your patience.’
The London Fire Brigade had earlier said: ‘Firefighters are responding alongside the police service to reports of a person on Tower Bridge.
‘The Brigade was first called about the incident at 1040, and firefighters from Lambeth River, Whitechapel, Edmonton and Soho fire stations are at the scene.’
The latest incident comes after a man scaled the Elizabeth Tower containing Big Ben in Westminster shortly before 7.30am on Saturday and clung to that building for 16 hours in a stand-off.
Daniel Day, 29, of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex has been charged with causing a public nuisance and trespassing on a protected site in relation to the Elizabeth Tower incident, the Metropolitan Police today said.
He was remanded to later appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
A major emergency response was sparked on Saturday after a man scaled part of the structure while waving a Palestine flag and sat on the 96m-high landmark.
The stand-off prompted the closure of Westminster Bridge, a key London route, as firefighters from four stations, along with police and ambulance services, rushed to the scene throughout the day.
Parliamentary tours were cancelled during the incident and roads around it were closed.
Footage showed rescuers using a cherry picker to reach the protestor, who had been perched on a stone ledge several metres up the tower.
The man, who had earlier scaled the building barefoot, was seen holding the Palestine flag he had with him on the ledge as he was lifted to the ground shortly after midnight on Sunday.
He was arrested and taken to St Thomas’ Hospital for treatment.
The Met said at about 1am on Sunday: ‘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.’
Scotland Yard added: ‘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.’
A group of pro-Palestine protestors held a demonstration outside Charing Cross police station in central London yesterday afternoon in protest over the arrest.
They were heard chanting, ‘Let him go’, as well as ‘Free, free Palestine – from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’.