Police have issued a stark warning after a man was caught on video scaling Tower Bridge.
YouTube user CassOnline posted a video online on Saturday, January 21, after bringing traffic to a halt on the bridge when horrified bystanders called the police.
According to his nine-minute-long video blog, the thrillseeker also climbed to the roof of a block of flats in Camberwell and sat with his legs dangling over the edge earlier that day.
He then told viewers he would climb the bridge as he had “wanted to for a long time” and alluded to “plans” for skyscraper The Shard.
The man originally told fans he would scale the bridge if a previous video posted on his YouTube channel gained 250 likes.
He said to the camera: “We didn’t hit it but she’s right there. I think we should do it.”
Footage shows the blogger scale a support on the side of the bridge before sitting down at the top to take in the view.
A large crowd gathers below and sirens can be heard as police descend on the bridge. A second video, posted by a bystander and later uploaded by YouTube user Joe Deniable, captured the entire incident unfolding. The crowds lets out a spontaneous cheer when the man finally climbed down after about fifteen minutes.
A spokesman for City Police said the man was not arrested but was detained and interviewed.
The force issued a “strong warning” to others not to copy the stunt over fears they risked “serious harm to themselves”.
The spokesman added: “We were called to Tower Bridge shortly before 4pm on Saturday, January 21 by concerned members of the public in relation to a man climbing the side of the bridge.
“The man was detained and interviewed, and an intelligence report was created. No arrests were made.
“While there was no direct harassment or distress caused to the public, we strongly warn the public about copying this type of behaviour and trespassing onto property. Not only does this have a huge impact on other people who use the property, anyone doing so risks serious harm to themselves.”