A FREE-CLIMBER has been filmed scaling The Shard in London.
The man spotted climbing the skyscraper, which is one of the tallest buildings in Europe, at around 5.15am this morning (Monday, July 8th).
Police were called to the scene and spoke to the man, who had completed most of the ascent without the aid of safety ropes of suction cups. He was not arrested.
The Metropolitan police issued the following statement:
“Police were called at 5.15am on Monday 8 July following reports of a free climber on the Shard. Emergency services attended and the man went inside the building where he was spoken to by officers. He was not arrested.”
Police were called at 05:15hrs on Monday, 8 July following reports of a ‘free-climber’ on the Shard. Emergency services attended and the man went inside the building where he was spoken to by officers. He was not arrested.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) July 8, 2019
In 2017, YouTuber CassOnline climbed up The Share via the public viewing platform to the building’s apex.
Prior to that, in 2012, the company operating The Shard secured a High Court injunction against Alain Robert aka ‘the French Spiderman’ to prevent him scaling the building.
A spokesperson for Real Estate Management, the company that operates the Shard, told The Guardian: “We dealt with an incident at the Shard earlier this morning involving a member of the public who climbed the building.
Someone is climbing up The Shard!!! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/4yWG0CZ6Rt
— Dave Kevin Williams 🏴 (@DaveKWilliams) July 8, 2019
“The person was safely apprehended and detained by police. Some areas around the base of the Shard that were closed to the public as a safety precaution have now been partially re-opened.
“Public safety and the security of the people who live, work and visit The Shard and the surrounding area is of paramount importance to us.
BREAKING: A man has been spotted climbing to the top of London's Shard this morning. Police say he is now inside and talking to officers. pic.twitter.com/N48TeXvCHV
— TalkTV (@TalkTV) July 8, 2019
“Fortunately no one was hurt by this dangerous activity and we will be assisting the police with their investigation.”
