Man seen climbing up London's 310-metre tall Shard skyscraper

London's Metropolitan Police were called at 5.15am after reports that a "free-climber” was climbing up the tower

A man was seen climbing up the Shard skyscraper in London on Monday, scaling the glass exterior of Western Europe’s tallest building at sunrise.

The UK capital’s Metropolitan police said they were called at 5.15am (8.15am UAE) after reports that a “free-climber” was making his way up the tower.

He was talking to police and has not been arrested, they said.

Located close to London Bridge, the Shard is 310 metres tall and is home to offices, restaurants, a retail arcade and a hotel.

Free-climbers scale the world’s tallest towers without using a rope or a safety harness, often without the permission of the building’s owner.

In 2011, famed free-climber Alain Robert, known as the "French Spider-Man", was granted permission to climbed the Burj Khalifa legally with a harness.

Mr Robert returned to Dubai four years later and scaled the 75-storey "twisted" Cayan Tower unaided.

Updated: July 08, 2019, 10:06 AM