A man was apprehended by Paris police on Sunday after attempting to climb the Eiffel Tower just hours before the Olympics’ closing ceremony.
The man was seen scaling the iconic landmark at around 14:45 local time (13:45 BST), prompting immediate intervention by authorities.
Although details about the man’s nationality and motives remain unclear, videos circulating on social media show the climber, shirtless, ascending the tower just above the Olympic rings that have been prominently displayed throughout the summer games.
Another video captures the moment when the man, handcuffed, is escorted away by police, reportedly remarking to a bystander, “Bloody warm, innit?”
According to reports from the Associated Press and CNN, French police evacuated the area around the Eiffel Tower during the incident.
However, these details have not been independently confirmed by the BBC, and it is unclear whether the evacuation was still in effect by 16:00.
The Eiffel Tower, which was the focal point of the Olympics’ opening ceremony, was not slated to play a significant role in the closing ceremony later that evening.
