Watch: Eiffel Tower Evacuated Before Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony as Man Attempts to Climb Structure

Aug. 11, 2024, 9:18 p.m.

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The area around the famous Eiffel Tower was evacuated for a while just before the Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony began after a man was seen climbing the landmark in the French capital.

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The shirtless man was seen scaling the 330-meter (1,083-foot) tall tower in the afternoon. It’s unclear where he began his ascent, but he was spotted just above the Olympic rings adorning the second section of the monument, just above the first viewing deck.

Around 3 p.m., police escorted visitors out of the area. Visitors who were briefly confined on the second floor were allowed to leave approximately 30 minutes later.

“An individual began scaling the Eiffel Tower at 2:45 p.m., law enforcement intervened and apprehended the person,” a Paris police official told The Associated Press, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to an ongoing investigation into the incident.

Someone is currently climbing the Eiffel Tower! pic.twitter.com/prpdDIeEN8

— Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) August 11, 2024 The Eiffel Tower was a centerpiece of the opening ceremony, with Celine Dion serenading the city from one of its viewing areas. The Tower was not part of the closing ceremony, which took place at the Stade de France in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis starting 9 p.m local time (12.30 am IST).

The incident took place as the Olympic competition concludes, and security services in Paris and beyond are shifting their focus to the closing ceremony, marking the end of the Games.

Over 30,000 police officers were deployed throughout Paris on Sunday. France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin stated that approximately 3,000 police officers will be stationed around the Stade de France, and 20,000 police troops and other security personnel in Paris and the Saint-Denis area will be deployed until late Sunday night to ensure safety on the final day of the Olympics.

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