Melbourne bridge graffiti vandal in police standoff

Police are engaged in a standoff with a vandal who scaled the Bolte Bridge tower in Melbourne and spray-painted graffiti early Monday morning. The individual, believed to be the notorious graffiti artist known as Pam the Bird, abseiled down the 140-meter concrete structure in Melbourne's Docklands.

The act of vandalism occurred in the early hours, with the trespasser defacing the tower with the distinctive "Pam the Bird" symbol and offensive language. This has led to the closure of two southbound lanes on the Bolte Bridge, a critical artery connecting major freeways, significantly impacting the morning commute for thousands of drivers.

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she could not confirm whether the trespasser was the alleged Pam the Bird vandal, who was last year charged with more than 50 offences for spray-painting numerous landmarks including Flinders Street Station and the CityLink "cheese stick".

The social media presence associated with the original Pam the Bird creator has reportedly shown footage from the tower's summit and a police vehicle below. Last year, the artist faced charges for over 50 offenses, including spray-painting prominent landmarks like Flinders Street Station and CityLink, as well as involvement in a ram-raid and assault.

Authorities confirmed that the trespasser remains at the top of the tower. A police spokesperson stated that officers are currently evaluating the safest course of action to resolve the situation. Despite the ongoing standoff and disruption, police emphasized that there is no immediate threat to public safety.

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officers were still assessing how to proceed, but that there was no ongoing threat to the public.