Police are in a standoff with a vandal who rappelled from the concrete tower of a famous Melbourne bridge and spray-painted an infamous graffiti character.
A man was seen climbing to the top of the 140m Bolt Bridge tower in Melbourne’s Docklands early this morning and spraying the Pam bird symbol as well as offensive words.
Police have closed one southbound lane of the bridge that links the Tullamarine Highway and CityLink Toll Road to the Western Gate Highway, affecting thousands of vehicles during the morning peak commute.
The speed slowed down on a busy road.
Pam the bird was spray painted on the Bolt Bridge tower. (ABC News)
The social media account of Pam the Bird’s original creator includes footage taken from the top of the tower, as well as police cars on the bridge and pier below.
The video filmed by the attacker was published on Pam Bird’s Instagram account. (Instagram: pambirdofficial)
But police were unable to confirm whether the intruder was the creator of Pam the Bird.
The intruder is still at the top of the tower.
“The man has climbed over the bridge and remains in the restricted area on the east tower,” a police spokesman said.
“He refuses to follow police directions and come down.”
The spokesman said there was no threat to the public or road users.
“There is a significant police presence in the area, including military personnel and water police units,” the spokesman said.
“Police are currently working to get the man down safely.”
An intruder climbs over the top of the Bolte Bridge tower in the early morning. (ABC News)