Barefoot Man Climbs Big Ben, Holds London Hostage for 16 Hours

Londoners had quite the spectacle on March 8 when a barefoot man in all-black scaled Elizabeth Tower, home to the iconic Big Ben, in what appeared to be a protest. Holding two Palestinian flags - one draped over the tower, the other waved defiantly - he refused to come down for more than 16 hours.

A Protest with a View: What Happened at Big Ben?

Emergency responders swarmed the area as negotiators tried to talk him down. He made it clear he wasn’t budging, telling officers, “If you come towards me, you are putting me in danger, and I will climb higher,” as reported by PEOPLE. Traffic around the Palace of Westminster ground to a halt, Westminster Bridge shut down, and even tours of Parliament were canceled.

Finally, after hours of tension, the man agreed to step off the ledge and into a cherry picker shortly after midnight on March 9. His descent may have been gentle, but his landing was anything but - he was promptly arrested.

Meet the Climber: Who Is He?

The mystery man behind the stunt has been identified as 29-year-old Daniel Day from Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. Authorities charged him with trespassing on a protected site and intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance. But Day isn’t going down without a fight - he pleaded not guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

His courtroom appearance had a bit of drama, too. According to BBC, supporters in the public gallery shouted, “Stay strong, Dan!” and “We love you!” as he was led away. Meanwhile, outside the courthouse, pro-Palestinian demonstrators waved flags and beat a drum loud enough to be heard inside.

Day remains in custody, awaiting his next hearing at Southwark Crown Court on April 14.

Has This Happened Before?

Turns out, Daniel Day isn’t the first to take Big Ben by storm. Back in 2020, an activist dressed as Spider-Man climbed the scaffolding outside the famous tower, protesting the U.K.’s coronavirus lockdowns. For two hours, he shouted messages to a cheering crowd while displaying banners that, as reported by New York Post, read, “All lives matter” and “Unify peoples of the world, unite and put things right.” He eventually climbed down and was arrested.

A year prior, another activist - this time dressed as then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson - scaled the landmark in yet another attention-grabbing protest.

What Happens Next?

Day will have his day in court. Will his bold climb lead to serious consequences, or will he be remembered as the guy who pulled off one of London’s most daring protests?

Either way, the saga of the Big Ben climber has already earned its place in the city’s long history of unusual public demonstrations.

References: Man Arrested After More Than 16 Hours for Climbing Big Ben’s Elizabeth Tower in London | Man denies public nuisance over Big Ben climb | A man with a Palestinian flag who climbed London’s Big Ben tower is arrested | Activist in Spider-Man costume climbs Big Ben in anti-lockdown protest