Man who scaled London’s Big Ben carrying Palestinian flag resists calls to come down, after more than 10 hours atop clock tower

A man with a Palestinian flag who climbed London’s Big Ben clock tower early on Saturday was still perched on the famous landmark after nightfall, even as emergency crews urged him to come down.

Police say they were first alerted shortly after 7 a.m., and the man has spent the day barefoot on a ledge several metres up the historic structure.

Crowds have been watching from behind a police cordon, with supporters chanting “Free Palestine” and “You are a hero.”

Negotiators boarded a fire truck lift and used a megaphone to speak with the man, but footage on social media shows him saying: “I will come down on my own terms.”

Police closed off the surrounding area, including Westminster Bridge, tours at the Houses of Parliament were canceled.

AFP journalists at the scene earlier say the man appeared to be bleeding from his foot.

“Officers are at the scene working to bring the incident to a safe conclusion,” London Metropolitan Police force tell AFP.

“They are being assisted by the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service.”