Police in standoff with Bolte Bridge graffiti trespasser

Police are working to safely remove a man from the eastern tower of the Bolte Bridge after he allegedly scaled the structure and painted a large “Pam the Bird”-style graffiti tag during an hours-long standoff on Tuesday morning.

Victoria Police said officers were responding to an incident involving a trespasser on the bridge, with the man remaining in a restricted area and refusing directions to come down.

Police allege the man was responsible for graffitiing the bridge earlier in the morning. A large bird-style tag was visible high on the eastern tower, while the man appeared to continue posting from the structure on social media as the police operation unfolded.

In a statement, police said there was no threat to the public or road users, but one lane on the bridge remained closed while officers worked to resolve the situation.

“There are a significant number of police resources in the area including uniform members and water police units,” Victoria Police said.

“Police are currently working to get the man down safely.”

The incident has drawn major attention online after social media posts appeared to show a person dressed in black at the top of the bridge tower, with emergency vehicles below. Several posts from the account appeared to make light of the situation, including requests for food and references to refusing to come down.

Police issued a reminder to media and the public that the situation remained an active police operation and asked that drones being flown in the area stop immediately.

“As you can imagine, this is a complex and dynamic situation and the safety of the man atop the bridge tower and our attending members is paramount,” Victoria Police said.

The Department of Transport reported traffic impacts on the Bolte Bridge, with one inbound lane closed and speeds reduced while emergency services remained on scene. Police believe the man had been on the structure since about 3am, with negotiations continuing into the morning.

The Bolte Bridge incident is the latest high-profile appearance of the “Pam the Bird” graffiti tag, which has become one of Melbourne’s most recognisable and controversial street-art symbols in recent years. The cartoon-like bird has appeared on prominent buildings, transport infrastructure and landmarks across the city, generating both criticism over vandalism and a cult following online.

Police have not confirmed the identity of the man on the bridge.

A man previously accused of being behind the original Pam the Bird graffiti, Jack Gibson-Burrell, has pleaded not guilty to a large number of graffiti-related charges and remains before the courts. Authorities have not said whether he is connected to Tuesday’s incident.

The operation remained ongoing at the time of publication.

Photos: Hanna Komissarova.