A 69-year-old Palestine protester boarded a 650-foot crane near the U.S. embassy and draped the country’s flag before being pulled down after almost two days.
It took Nick Georges, of Hornhatch near Guildford, Surrey, two hours to climb the £ 1 billion skyscraper project in central London.
The activist, who is a member of Palestine Action and was arrested in February for breaking up an Israeli factory, spent 30 hours on One Nine Elms as of Tuesday.
But Met police pulled him downstairs and arrested him yesterday after the reckless stunt.
It took Nick Georges, of Hornhatch near Guildford, Surrey, two hours to scale the £ 1 billion skyscraper project in central London
The Palestine Action activist who was arrested in February for destroying an Israeli factory spent 30 hours up there as of Tuesday
Georges began his ascent without a helmet or safety gear after breaking into the development project with a bolt cutter and a portable ladder at 4 a.m. on Tuesday
Met officials dragged him downstairs and arrested him yesterday after the reckless stunt
Georges began his ascent without a helmet or safety gear after breaking into the development project with a bolt cutter and a portable ladder at 4 a.m. on Tuesday.
His antics forced the police to block the main streets around the building for most of the day.
The protester unfurled his Palestine flag from above and began to sit in protest – refusing to speak to officials who were concerned for his welfare.
He claimed he lived on emergency rations of energy bars and water during the stunt.
Although he did the bold act of his own accord, Georges complained about “cold”, “unwell” and only got “an hour of sleep”.
Georges began his ascent without a helmet or safety gear after breaking into the development project with a bolt cutter and a portable ladder at 4 a.m. on Tuesday
His antics forced the police to block the main streets around the building for most of the day
He told MyLondon, “It’s the most terrifying thing I’ve done in my 69 years on this planet. The heights, the fear of falling and breaking into the construction site. ‘
“It was a difficult night. I was worried about falling out and it was freezing.
“I slept an hour all night. It’s so uncomfortable up here, but luckily I didn’t slip and fall. ‘
He said he wanted to protest to show solidarity with the treatment of the Palestinian people.
Georges had planned to stay on top of the skyscraper until 6 p.m. on Wednesday, but was dragged down yesterday afternoon.
It was the activist’s second attempt to climb the tower, having previously found a padlock on the crane’s entrance.
The police blocked the busy road at the US embassy to Wandsworth Road, which caused significant disruption.
Georges, a former crane worker, lived in Beirut when he was 17 and said he saw the Palestinians’ plight.
Georges had planned to stay on the skyscraper until 6 p.m. on Wednesday, but was unceremoniously evacuated yesterday afternoon
It was the activist’s second attempt to climb the tower, having previously found a padlock at the entrance to the crane
He said he had done nothing about it for 50 years before starting to protest six years ago.
In February he was arrested for his involvement in a ruthless ploy to destroy an Israeli factory in Staffordshire.
He was one of six people arrested for climbing the roof of the UAV Engines site in Shenstone, near Lichfield.
The protesters smashed windows with hammers and sprayed red paint simulating blood over the brickwork.
The activists claimed the website, owned by Elbit Systems UK, was supplying drones to the Israeli military.
He is currently on bail awaiting trial in Stafford Crown Court on January 4, 2022.
His last demonstration was near the £ 1 billion development project around the US embassy.
Huge sums of money have been poured into remodeling Battersea Power Station and creating modern housing in the area.
The skyscraper that Georges climbs will be 200 meters high when completed – as high as the Gherkin in central London.
