PARIS — French police have evacuated the area around the Eiffel Tower after a man was seen climbing the Paris landmark hours before midnight. Olympics closing ceremony Sunday.
The shirtless man was seen climbing the 330m tower in the afternoon. It is unclear where he began his ascent, but he was seen just above the Olympic rings that adorn the second part of the monument, just above the first observation deck.
Police escorted visitors away from the area around 3 p.m. Some visitors who were briefly locked on the second floor were allowed out about 30 minutes later.
The Eiffel Tower was a central part of the opening ceremony, with Celine Dion serenading the city from one of its viewing areas. The tower is not expected to be part of the closing ceremony, which was due to start at the Stade de France in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis at 9pm
The incident occurred as the Olympic competition ends and security services in Paris and beyond shift their focus to closing ceremony which will bring down the curtain on the Games.
More than 30,000 police officers have been deployed around Paris on Sunday. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said around 3,000 police officers would be mobilized around the Stade de France, and 20,000 police soldiers and other security personnel in Paris and the Saint-Denis area would be mobilized late Sunday night to ensure security on the final day of the Olympics.
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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games