Man spotted scaling Eiffel Tower causes evacuation just before closing ceremony
PARIS — French authorities have cleared the vicinity surrounding the Eiffel Tower after a man was observed climbing the Paris landmark hours before the Olympics closing event Sunday.
The topless individual was seen ascending the 330-meter (1,083-foot) tall tower in the afternoon. His starting point remains unclear, but he was sighted just above the Olympic rings decorating the second part of the structure, beyond the initial observation deck.
Law enforcement guided visitors away from the vicinity around 3 p.m. Some guests who were briefly confined on the second level were permitted to leave approximately 30 minutes later.
The Eiffel Tower was a focal point of the opening festivity, with Celine Dion performing for the city from one of its observation spots. The Tower is not anticipated to be included in the closing celebration, which was scheduled to commence at Stade de France in the northern neighborhood of Saint-Denis at 9 p.m.
The occurrence took place as the Olympic contests draw to a close and security services in Paris and beyond are shifting their attention to the closing ceremony that will mark the end of the Games.
Over 30,000 police officers have been stationed around Paris on Sunday. France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin stated that approximately 3,000 law enforcement officers will be deployed around the Stade de France, and 20,000 police personnel and other security forces in Paris and the Saint-Denis region will be active late into Sunday night to guarantee safety on the final day of the Olympics.
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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games