Four protesters were arrested on December 6, 2025, after throwing apple crumble and custard at the display case housing the Imperial State Crown in the Jewel House at the Tower of London. The incident, which occurred at approximately 9:50 a.m. local time, prompted a temporary closure of the popular historic attraction but left the Crown Jewels themselves unharmed.
Those arrested included Miriam Cranch, a 21-year-old retail worker from Leeds, and Zahra Ali, a 19-year-old student from London. According to statements from the Metropolitan Police, Cranch and Ali were identified as the two individuals who threw the dessert, while two others present at the scene were also detained. The protest was carried out by members of the civil resistance group Take Back Power, who targeted the UK’s most valuable treasure as part of a broader campaign against wealth inequality.
Witnesses reported that after the dessert was thrown, the protesters unfurled a banner that read "Democracy has crumbled. Tax the rich" before being detained. The group also directed onlookers to their website, advocating for higher taxes on the super-rich and the formation of a permanent citizens' assembly to shape tax policy.
In a statement, members of Take Back Power argued that "the system is broken," pointing to what they describe as a widening gap between wealthy individuals or corporations and ordinary people trying to make ends meet. The group claims that in recent years, the fortunes of the richest have increased four times faster than the average household, with more than a third of people now earning less than what is needed for basic living expenses. They warned that increasing inequality is fueling societal unrest and called for ordinary citizens to have a permanent voice in how wealth is taxed.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed in their news release that all four suspects were taken into custody on suspicion of criminal damage. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, and no damage was reported to the Crown Jewels themselves.
Recent years have seen a pattern of high-profile protests by climate and economic justice groups at global cultural sites. These actions — part of a broader push for policy change on climate and wealth inequality — have at times courted controversy, and have often led to legal repercussions for participants. In the UK, some climate organizations have ended direct-action campaigns, citing limited effectiveness and rising legal costs, while others, like Take Back Power, continue to pursue highly visible demonstrations.
The attack at the Tower of London has attracted significant attention in the context of ongoing debates over economic inequality, as well as heightened concerns over the security of national treasures following a spate of high-profile thefts and acts of civil disobedience.
Further details on this incident can be found in news reports from Reuters, AP News, and Yahoo! News.