Man scales Big Ben building holding Palestinian flag

UK police closed the area around Big Ben in London today after a man holding a Palestinian flag climbed up the tower housing the famous clock and bell.

The man had ascended several metres and was perched barefoot on a ledge of the historic structure, whose official name is Elizabeth Tower.

Crowds looked on from beyond a police cordon, while emergency vehicles were deployed in the area and Westminster Bridge was closed.

Police said they were first alerted "to a man climbing up the Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament" shortly after 7am.

At around 10am an emergency team used a fire truck lift and a megaphone to try to speak with the man. But he was still there several hours later.

"Officers are at the scene working to bring the incident to a safe conclusion," London's Metropolitan Police force said.

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