Seven-hour standoff at major Melbourne bridge comes to an end as masked graffiti artist abseils down 140metre tower and is arrested by cops

By AAP and AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: 23:05, 6 July 2026 | Updated: 02:47, 7 July 2026 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. 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, the alleged vandal 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. The man 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 says: 'Lower the taxes and drone me some f****** food! Let's go boys and girls!' In the same video, a man's voice says: '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. The man then 'flips the bird' at officers. The man 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. It is not yet known who the man on the Bolte Bridge is. Police previously charged 22-year-old Jack 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. 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  Gibson-Burrell is accused of causing about $700,000 in damage, including to heritage-listed Victorian landmarks where he allegedly sprayed the tag. 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.