1. ITV Report

Leveson protest was 'surprisingly easy'

A protester who disturbed the Leveson Inquiry during Tony Blair's evidence has described how it was 'surprisingly easy' to get around security and gain entrance to the court room where the hearing was taking place.

Speaking to LBC 97.3 after he was released he said he had tried to walk in through the front door and was stopped - so he went to find a back way in:

He had also called the radio station just an hour and a half before the outburst.

The man, who has told reporters his name is David Lawley-Wakelin, spoke on LBC 97.3 before bursting in to the hearing, about his anger at the former Prime Minister and accused the British public of "turning a blind-eye."

Saying then that his name was Howard from Acton, he called Tony Blair a war criminal - the same angry claim he made in the Leveson Inquiry less than two hours later.

An investigation was ordered the disturbance at the Leveson Inquiry as Tony Blair was giving evidence and a man yelled "this man should be arrested for war crimes."

Mr Lawley-Wakelin, managed to evade security and access the court room through a secure corridor.

The 49-year-old, who said he was from the Alternative Iraq Enquiry, brought proceedings to a halt by hurling accusations at the former Prime Minister.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "He has been arrested on suspicion of breach of the peace."

As he was being restrained, the protester shouted: "JP Morgan paid him off for the Iraq war. Three months after he invaded Iraq they held up the Iraq bank for 20 billion.

"He was then paid six million dollars every year and still is from JP Morgan six months after he left office.

"This man is a war criminal."

He was eventually wrestled to the ground by three men and ejected from the court room before being arrested.

Lord Justice Leveson, who rose to his feet when the intruder entered dressed in white shirt and trousers, called for an immediate inquiry into how he had got in.


After the removal of the protester, Mr Blair denied his allegations.

Tony Blair arrives at the High Court in London to give evidence to Leveson Inquiry into press standards. Credit: Max Nash/PA Wire


"I've never had a discussion with them about that."

Meanwhile the protester was escorted through the Royal Courts of Justice by security guards and was seen being driven away in a police van.

It is understood he got past security-coded doors to access the judges' corridor leading to courtroom 73.

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