A man was spotted climbing the Eiffel Tower in Paris hours before the Olympics closing ceremony on Sunday. This prompted the French police to evacuate the area around the Tower.
Viral videos shows the bare-chested climber climbing the 330 metres tower on Sunday afternoon without using ropes.
“At 2.45 pm, an individual was seen climbing the Eiffel Tower. The police immediately intervened and arrested the individual,” a police official said.
It’s unclear where his climb began, but he was observed just above the Olympic rings displayed on the second section of the monument, slightly above the first viewing deck, according to the Associated Press.
King Kong? No, just a shirtless climber with a British accent scaling the Eiffel Tower hours before the Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony! 🚨 The tower was closed and evacuated, and the Brit was soon arrested. #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/hAzdrisaV5
— Russian Market (@runews) August 11, 2024
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Around 3 pm, police began clearing visitors from the area. Those who had been briefly stranded on the second floor were allowed to leave about 30 minutes later.
Tower Not To Be Part Of Closing Ceremony
The focal point of the opening ceremony was the Eiffel Tower, where Celine Dion serenaded the city from a viewing platform. The tower was not expected to be part of the closing ceremony which was scheduled to start at 9 p.m. at Stade de France in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis.
The incident took place as the Olympic events were drawing to a close, with security services in Paris and surrounding areas focusing on the upcoming closing ceremony.
