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'Cabbie' dives off Tower Bridge in Olympic Lane protest | 'Cabbie' dives off Tower Bridge in Olympic Lane protest |
(40 minutes later) | |
A man has dived headfirst off Tower Bridge during a protest by London taxi drivers against their ban from using Olympics Games Lanes. | A man has dived headfirst off Tower Bridge during a protest by London taxi drivers against their ban from using Olympics Games Lanes. |
The group of drivers travelled slowly across Tower Bridge, tooting their horns. | |
A man was arrested after jumping from the bridge into Thames. | A man was arrested after jumping from the bridge into Thames. |
Last week taxi drivers brought Parliament Square to a halt, claiming they should be able to use the lanes as well as officials and athletes. | |
The diver, believed to be a taxi driver, was pulled from the river by police. A man had previously contacted media organisations warning he was going to attempt the stunt. | |
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Around 4pm a man who was taking part in a planned demonstration jumped into the River Thames from Tower Bridge. | A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Around 4pm a man who was taking part in a planned demonstration jumped into the River Thames from Tower Bridge. |
"Officers from the marine policing unit rescued the man. He has been arrested for a public order offence." | "Officers from the marine policing unit rescued the man. He has been arrested for a public order offence." |
A photograph posted on Twitter appeared to show the man entering the water headfirst in a streamlined diving position. | A photograph posted on Twitter appeared to show the man entering the water headfirst in a streamlined diving position. |
One taxi driver then Tweeted: "Please do not leave your taxi unattended! We have reports that one taxi driver has done just that in spectacular fashion!" | One taxi driver then Tweeted: "Please do not leave your taxi unattended! We have reports that one taxi driver has done just that in spectacular fashion!" |
A BBC reporter said the man was almost hit by a tourist ferry in the water. | A BBC reporter said the man was almost hit by a tourist ferry in the water. |
Traffic was again brought to a standstill during the protest, and there was a noticeable police presence. | Traffic was again brought to a standstill during the protest, and there was a noticeable police presence. |
A BBC correspondent estimated that about 50 cabs took part, with drivers sounding their horns in unison to make their presence felt. | |
The United Cabbies Group said on Twitter that it was happy with the turnout, which saw about six police vans at the scene. | |
Leon Daniels, Transport for London's managing director of surface transport, said: "The first taxi protest was attended by a tiny minority of drivers, and they do not represent the views of the vast majority of London's taxi drivers. | |
"It is a real shame that people who claim to represent some of the honest and most hard-working people in London, the taxi trade, have acted in this way." |