Eight-hour standoff at major Melbourne bridge comes to an end as masked graffiti artist abseils down 140metre tower and is arrested by cops
A standoff between police and an anti-government protester at a major bridge in Melbourne has come to an end after the demonstrator was taken into custody.
Jack Gibson-Burrell, 22, scaled a 140metre tower on the Bolte Bridge at about 2.30am on Tuesday, before allegedly spraying the Pam the Bird symbol on a pillar.
The image has been illegally sprayed on Melbourne landmarks for years, often in hard-to-reach locations and on heritage-listed buildings.
While perched on top of the bridge, Gibson-Burrell demanded lower taxes, and a peanut butter and jam sandwich with a glass of milk.
Police were forced to close a southbound lane, causing a headache for motorists during the morning commute.
Gibson-Burrell finally abseiled down the tower at 11am before he was taken into custody.
‘A 22-year-old Yarraville man was arrested at the scene without further incident,’ a Victoria Police spokesman said.
‘He will be interviewed by investigators.’
A standoff between police and an anti-government protester at a major bridge in Melbourne has come to an end after the demonstrator was taken into custody
The masked man scaled a 140metre tower on the Bolte Bridge at about 2.30am on Tuesday, before allegedly spraying the Pam the Bird symbol on a pillar
An Instagram page, @pambirdofficial, shared videos appearing to have been filmed from the top of the pillar on Tuesday, along with the hashtag #notcomingdown.
In one video, a caption said: ‘Lower the taxes and drone me some f****** food! Let’s go boys and girls!’
In the same video, Gibson-Burrell said: ‘I’m not coming down until they lower the taxes.’
Another video shows feet dangling from the tower before zooming in on a large police presence below. Gibson-Burrell then ‘flips the bird’ at officers.
Gibson-Burrell also posted on social media that he would like a blanket for the cold.
‘I want a peanut butter and jam sandwich, and a glass of milk – or I am not coming down,’ he said in a third video.
Police previously charged Gibson-Burrell with 209 offences over the Pam the Bird graffiti, including reckless conduct endangering life or serious injury, criminal damage, theft and aggravated burglary.
Gibson-Burrell is accused of causing about $700,000 in damage, including to heritage-listed Victorian landmarks where he allegedly sprayed the tag.
While perched on top of the bridge, the alleged vandal demanded lower taxes, and a peanut butter and jam sandwich with a glass of milk
He pointed the finger at police from the top of the bridge
Police allege he trespassed into Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station in July 2024 and abseiled up its famous clock tower to paint the bird on it.
He was granted bail in May ahead of a future trial in the County Court.
His bail conditions included complying with a nightly curfew at his Geelong address and not possessing any abseiling or graffiti-related items.
