A PROTESTER dressed as Santa climbed a Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square before being arrested today.
Two Metropolitan Police officers could be seen encouraging a man to get off during the stunt in central London.
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A protester dressed as Santa climbed a Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square today
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The protester was arrested on SundayCredit: Rex
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He was escorted from the tree to the police van. Credits: Alamy
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Two Metropolitan Police officers could be seen encouraging the man to get off Credit: Social Media
A man waved a newspaper with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s face on the front.
The headline read in bold red letters: “Bring Father Back to Christmas.”
Officers said they were notified that a man had climbed a tree at around 9.35am on Sunday morning.
In the meantime, the man came down from the tree and was arrested at the scene.
He was escorted to the police van where he was searched and handcuffed.
Fathers4Justice, a campaign fighting for changes to fathers’ rights laws, claimed responsibility for the protest.
The organization posted on X this morning: “A Fathers4Justice supporter dressed as Santa climbed the famous Trafalgar Square Christmas tree in London.
“Trafalgar Square closed. Police on scene trying to calm him down.”
Nicolas Wäckers, 22, from Wray, Lancashire, told The Sun: “I saw a guy dressed as Santa who jumped over the barrier and started climbing a tree.
“The tree is quite fragile and has started to crack. He had to stop when he got to the middle because the branches were breaking.
“He started screaming, ‘Bring Father back to Christmas!’
“Then he started putting up posters of Keir Starmer dressed as Scrooge.
“A fire truck with a cherry picker was called, but they can’t get to it because of the barriers.
“Many onlookers were quite confused and urged him to stop climbing the tree.
“Many didn’t even realize he was in the tree. One even told him to jump.”
A spokesman for the Met Police previously said: “At around 09:35 on Sunday 15 December police were informed that a man had climbed a Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, WC2.
“He remains in the tree and the officers are on the scene monitoring the situation.”
The lights on the tall tree donated by Norway to Britain were switched on at the beginning of the month.
Every year since 1947, Norway has presented Britain with a Christmas tree.
The tradition began as a thank you gift after British support during World War II.
The tree is typically a 50- to 60-year-old Norway spruce that measures more than 20 meters in height.
It is cut from the forests that probe the city of Oslo, sometimes months or years in advance.
It rises at the beginning of December and comes down around twelfth night – the fifth or sixth of January.
The tree travels 550 miles across the North Sea and is kept in a secret location until discovered.
Once in position, a team of fitting specialists places the dish in its usual location.
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A man could be seen waving a newspaper with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer Credit: Twitter/@F4JOfficial
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Fathers4Justice claimed responsibility for the protestCredit: Social Media
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The tree was donated to Britain by Norway Credits: Rex
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education