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A ‘Freedom for Iran’ protester dramatically scaled the 120ft clock tower at King’s Cross – and refused to come down while clutching onto his dog.
The activist could be seen standing in front of the clock face at one of London‘s busiest train stations at rush hour this morning.
Commuters watched on in shock as the activist held onto what appeared to be a Pomeranian dog and unfurled a huge banner which read: ‘Iran belongs to its people.’
Emergency services fenced off the front of King’s Cross station with police officers, paramedics and firefighters gathering below the protester, who was wearing a black t-shirt with the slogan ‘no to war’.
Ten firefighters were called to the central London station, with two of them seen attempting to talk the man down from a cherry picker later on in the morning.
The banner, suspended from the clock tower and blowing in the wind, said: ‘Iran belongs to its people. Freedom for Iran. Every deal with them against human rights. Dictators exert terror and poverty.’
He repeatedly altered the fixing of the banner which has a rucksack strapped to the bottom of it.
A protester has dramatically scaled the clock tower outside Kings Cross station with his dog
Commuters watched on in shock as the activist clutched his dog and unfurled a huge banner
Ten firefighters were called to the central London station, with two of them seen attempting to talk the man down from a cherry picker
King’s Cross station in London remains open but passengers have been told to use side entrances as front entrances are closed while emergency services are at the scene where a protester has climbed the clock tower.
A section of the plaza in front of the station remains cordoned off with white barriers.
As the cherry picker was lifted up to the demonstrator again, he began to raise his voice at crews coming towards him.
The man handed over his dog to crews who then brought the animal down to the ground.
Staff continue to speak to him from the cherry picker and dozens of people are looking on from below.
As rain began to pour in central London, the protester up King’s Cross clock tower packed his banner away.
He spoke to mediators and was brought down by cherry picker at 11.50am, bringing the stand-off to an end after nearly four hours.
A spokesman for British Transport Police told the Mail: ‘Officers were called to King’s Cross railway station at around 8am today (2 September) following reports of a person in a precarious position.
‘The incident is ongoing and officers are in attendance alongside other emergency services, working to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.’
A London Fire Brigade cherry picker lowers a dog to the ground, after firefighters persuaded a protestor who was holding it while standing on a ledge in front of the King’s Cross clock tower
As the cherry picker was lifted up to the demonstrator again, he began to raise his voice at crews coming towards him
Emergency services have fenced off the front of King’s Cross station
The activist was performing a protest for the ‘Freedom of Iran’
He tightly clutched onto his dog at the top of the tower, 120ft above the ground of commuters below
Network Rail said services are running as normal, with passengers being diverted to other platform entrances while the front of the station is cordoned off.
The London Fire Bridgade, London Ambulance Service and British Transport Police attended the scene.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: ‘The Brigade was called at 8.14am to reports of a man on the roof of King’s Cross railway station on Euston Road.
‘Two fire engines and around ten firefighters are currently on scene assisting British Transport Police.’
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
