THE PROTESTER who called former British prime minister Tony Blair a war criminal yesterday, after he got past security at the Leveson inquiry, is not to be prosecuted, the Metropolitan Police has said.
David Lawley Wakelin, who has made some freelance documentaries, startled the room when he appeared from behind Mr Justice Leveson, just feet away from Mr Blair, shortly after noon, shouting: “This man should be arrested for war crimes. 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 $6 million every year from JP Morgan six months after he left office. The man is a war criminal,” he said.
He was grabbed by security staff and taken away by police for questioning. Mr Lawley Wakelin writes a blog that is highly critical of Mr Blair and previously made accusations against him during the BBC’s Question Time.
He managed to get past a door protected by a security code scanner. There were suggestions last night that the incident was not planned in advance, but rather that he slipped as the door closed behind a previous entrant.
Lord Justice Leveson said: “I’d like to find out how this gentleman managed to access the court through what is supposed to be a secure corridor. I’ll have an investigation undertaken about that immediately. I apologise.”
Mr Blair replied: “That’s fine. Can I actually say on the record what he said about Iraq and JP Morgan is completely and totally untrue. I have never had a discussion with them about that or any other relationship between them and Iraq.”
