Four Protesters Arrested for Crown Jewels Display Damage

Four protesters were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after throwing custard and crumble onto the display case housing the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London on Saturday morning.

The incident occurred around 9:48 a.m. at the historic site, a popular tourist attraction that draws more than three million visitors annually. According to the Metropolitan Police, officers responded to reports of damage to the Jewel House, where the State Crown and other coronation regalia are exhibited. The protesters, identified as members of the recently formed civil disobedience group Take Back Power, smeared the food substances on the glass case protecting the artifacts before two of them fled the scene. Security staff attempted to intervene as tourists looked on, footage from the event showed.

Police worked with City of London officers and Tower security to apprehend the four individuals, who were taken into custody. The Jewel House, the vault-like exhibit space, was immediately closed to the public for investigation, though the rest of the Tower of London remained open. No damage to the jewels themselves was reported, but the display case required cleaning and assessment.