'Democracy has crumbled': Four protesters arrested at Tower of London after 'defacing Crown Jewels with custard dessert'

Police confirmed that four individuals had been arrested following the incident, that took place shortly before 10am on Saturday.

Officers from the Met stormed the Jewel House, which is attached to the Tower of London, following reports of criminal damage to one of the exhibit's display cases containing the State Crown.

Four protestors have since been arrested over criminal damage.

The Jewel house remains temporarily closed, with Royal Palaces confirming: "Our staff responded quickly, the space was closed, police attended the scene and the protestors involved have been apprehended.  The Crown Jewels have not been damaged."

"The Tower is open to the public, but the Treasury of the Jewel House remains closed."

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Police responded to reports that food had been thrown, with footage emerging online showing a group calling themselves ‘Take Back Power’ appearing to smear what's been described as 'apple crumble and custard' over the case.

Proclaiming it time to "take back power", two individuals wearing t-shirts branded with the message "Britain is Broken" smothered food over the case.

According to their website, the "new" activist group's mission is to fight against the wealthy, proclaiming: "The hoarding of obscene wealth is driving us towards collapse."

In response to the incident, they wrote: "Two supporters of Take Back Power have smothered dessert over the crown jewels.

"Take Back Power is a new nonviolent civil-resistance group, demanding that the UK government establish a permanent citizen’s assembly- a House of the People, which has the power to tax extreme wealth and fix Britain."

Detailing their belief that "Britain is broken because the super rich are pocketing billions, whilst ordinary people struggle to get by," the group added: "two action takers and two others had been taken into custard-y by police".

A Take Back Power spokesperson said:“Since 2011, the poorest 10% of households have paid a combined tax rate of 44% on their income and wealth gains, while the richest paid 22%. Our political class, be it this government, Reform or Tory, serve the super-rich; they do not care about working people.

"That’s why we must demand real democracy, with ordinary people at the heart of decision making, through a citizen-led assembly that has the power to tax the rich.”

"We feel powerless to change things, because they corrupt our politics and own our media. It’s time to Take Back Power.

"Why should the rich pay a lower tax rate than the hard working majority? We need ordinary people to decide how to tax extreme wealth, with a citizen-led assembly."

The Met Police said in a statement: "Police were called at 09:48hrs on Saturday, 6 December to the Tower of London following reports of criminal damage to a display case, containing the State Crown.

"Officers worked closely with City of London Police and security officers and four people have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. They have taken into custody," officers said.

"The Tower has been closed to the public while the police investigation continues."