Part of the Tower of London was closed to visitors on Saturday after protesters hurled food at a display case containing the Crown Jewels in a demonstration against inequality in the UK.
Police arrested four people on suspicion of criminal damage after custard and apple crumble were thrown at the glass protecting the Imperial State Crown. The protesters allegedly fled the scene before all four were detained by officers from Scotland Yard and the City of London Police. No damage was done to the Crown Jewels, according to Historic Royal Palaces.
The action was claimed by Take Back Power, a self-described non-violent civil-resistance group calling for a permanent citizens’ assembly with powers to “tax extreme wealth and fix Britain”.
Footage released by the group showed activists slamming a foil tray of crumble against the glass and pouring custard over it before revealing T-shirts reading “Take Back Power”. One shouted, “Democracy has crumbled,” while another declared: “Britain is broken.”
Take Back Power identified one participant as 19-year-old student Zahra Ali, who said the action was intended to highlight rising homelessness and wealth inequality.
The Tower of London later reopened on Saturday afternoon once the police investigation concluded.
