Four protestors have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage to the display case containing the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, forcing the closure of the section housing the priceless national symbols.
Metropolitan Police officers rushed to the scene on Saturday morning after reports of the incident, with responsibility being claimed by the group Take Back Power.
Video shared by the group showed them dumping custard and crumble on the case containing the State Crown as staff tried to intervene.
“Crumble and Custard on the Crown Jewels,” they wrote alongside the video.
“Democracy has crumbled. Billionaires buy political influence whilst homeless people die on the streets. We need a House of the People to tax the rich,” the group added.
Take Back Power describes itself as a “nonviolent civil resistance group in the UK”.
“We are ordinary people from all walks of life who believe that in order to fix Britain, we have to tax the rich. And we don’t think the rich should get a veto,” they add on their website.
A spokesman for the Met confirmed: “Police were called at 09:48hrs on Saturday, December 6 to the Tower of London following reports of criminal damage to a display case, containing the State Crown.
Protesters have been arrested after drenching Tower of London’s Crown Jewels display with custard and crumble
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TAKE BACK POWER“Officers worked closely with City of London Police and security officers and four people have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. They have taken into custody.
“The Jewel House has been closed to the public while the police investigation continues,” they added.
It was initially reported by the force that the entire Tower of London had been closed, but this was soon clarified.
Found within the cabinet targeted by the protestors is the Imperial State Crown, which is worn by the monarch at the end of the coronation ceremony and at formal occasions like the state opening of parliament.
The protest group Take Back Power claimed responsibility
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TAKE BACK POWER
They were initially made for King Charles II’s coronation in 1661 and have been kept under lock and key at the Tower of London since then.
Just days previously, Take Back Power dumped manure before the Christmas tree at the Ritz hotel.
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