Taking hold – literally – of Lord Justice Leveson’s bench, the intruder – a film-maker and veteran Iraq War protestor subsequently named as David Lawley-Wakelin – had entered the number 73 courtroom, it seems, by way of a secure entrance that’s access control coded and reserved only for Leveson himself as well as various members of the court staff.
The 49-year old protestor shouted to stunned attendees that he believes former Prime Minister Tony Blair – who was sitting calmly in the ‘witness box’ – had been ‘bought’ by JP Morgan, in turn suggesting that the US investment bank had somehow profited from the Iraq War.
Lawley-Wakelin exclaimed: “Excuse me. This man [Tony Blair] should be arrested for war crimes. JP Morgan paid him off for the Iraq war three months after we invaded Iraq. He held up the Iraq bank for GB pound 20 million. He was then paid $6 million every year, and still is, from JP Morgan six months after he left office. The man is a war criminal.”
As you’ll see from the video (below), Lawley-Wakelin was eventually led from the room by on duty police officers and security staff.
The Alternative Iraq Enquiry
As soon as Lawley-Wakelin had been taken to the eastern block of the High Court and held in a secure zone, Tony Blair immediately told the assembled throng in no uncertain terms that these accusations are “completely and utterly untrue”.
Lord Leveson explained to Blair that he didn’t have to answer any questions not issued directly by the court.
Blair then countered: “I appreciate that, but the difficulty of modern politics – and I say this not as a criticism of the media – is that my experience of the reporting of these events is that you can have 1,000 people in the room, but if someone gets up and shouts or throws something that is the news. The other 999 might as well not bother turning up.”
Lawley-Wakelin has made a film entitled The Alternative Iraq Enquiry, and he duly spoke out to members of the national press as he was later escorted through the Royal Courts of Justice and outside to a waiting Metropolian Police Service van.
He was formally arrested on suspicion of breach of the peace and reports state he’s now being held at a central London police station.
Investigation immediately underway
When the hearing resumed for this afternoon’s session, Lord Leveson said: “Considerable effort has been put into ensuring all witnesses can give their evidence in a safe and secure environment, and I very much regret what has happened. An investigation is being undertaken and I will be giving consideration to the steps that can be taken – and should be taken – against this particular intruder. Efforts will be redoubled to ensure that incidents of this nature don’t recur.”
Lord Leveson also apologised again to Blair for the intrusion.
Earlier in the day, the former Prime Minister had been targeted by protestors outside the Royal Courts of Justice.
