Pro-Palestinian activist who scaled Big Ben pleads not guilty to harming public

A man who climbed part way up the “Big Ben” clock tower at London’s Palace of Westminster early Saturday, and stayed there all day as part of a pro-Palestinian protest, appears in court.

Clutching a Palestinian flag, Daniel Day, 29, scaled 25 meters (82 feet) up the building, officially known as the Elizabeth Tower, at about 7:20 a.m. on Saturday, remaining there for 16 hours until agreeing to come down, his lawyer and prosecutors tell London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

He was subsequently charged by police with climbing and remaining on the tower which created “a risk or caused serious harm to the public,” and also trespassing on a protected site.

Prosecutors say Day’s actions led to serious disruption in that area of central London with roads closed and buses diverted, and the cancellation of parliamentary tours had cost 25,000 pounds ($32,300).

Day’s lawyer says he will plead not guilty to the first charge, saying his action was designed to spread awareness regarding the situation in Gaza and Britain’s response to it. The second charge of trespass requires the authorization of the attorney general, and so the case is adjourned until March 17 for a decision to be made.

Day, from a seaside town in eastern England, is remanded into custody, with his supporters clapping and shouting “Hero” and “Free Palestine” as he is led away.