Man remains in custody for 'public nuisance' after M1 gantry stunt

Police have confirmed a man suspected of causing a public nuisance is still in custody for questioning following his arrest.
A man on who climbed a motorway information board has been arrested and is still in police custody. (Image: SWNS).A man on who climbed a motorway information board has been arrested and is still in police custody. (Image: SWNS).
A man on who climbed a motorway information board has been arrested and is still in police custody. (Image: SWNS).

Hundreds of thousands of motorists were delayed by a man who climbed onto a motorway gantry board and refused to come down, forcing police to close all Southbound lanes for 28 hours.

Police arrested the man on suspicion of causing a public nuisance when he came down from the stanchion at around 5pm yesterday (Monday, June 13).

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He had scaled a ladder to climb up there at about noon on Sunday and had written protesting messages across the back of the information board.

Trained officers negotiated with the man over a 28-hour closure of the southbound carriageway near East Midlands Airport.Trained officers negotiated with the man over a 28-hour closure of the southbound carriageway near East Midlands Airport.
Trained officers negotiated with the man over a 28-hour closure of the southbound carriageway near East Midlands Airport.

Leicestershire Police closed the southbound carriageway between junctions 23a and 22 as trained officers negotiated with him, and said he was due to be interviewed today.

Assistant Chief Constable Phil Kay said: “I do not underestimate the incredible gridlock and massive inconvenience that this incident caused to motorists throughout the UK.

“I would, however, like to express my sincere sympathies to the many tens of thousands of people who have been seriously inconvenienced as a result of this incident. Our priority from the outset was the safety of the man, of my officers, and of the wider motoring public.”

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