A man was arrested for climbing the Eiffel Tower on Sunday, just hours before the Olympics closing ceremony, Paris police informed the BBC.
The man was seen scaling the tower around 14:45 local time (13:45 BST), prompting immediate intervention and arrest by the officers. Details regarding the man’s motivation and nationality are currently unavailable.
Videos circulating on social media depict a shirtless man climbing the tower just above the Olympic rings, which have been displayed throughout the summer games.
In another video, the man is shown being escorted away by police with his hands cuffed behind his back, remarking to a bystander, “Bloody warm, innit?”
According to the Associated Press, French police evacuated the area around the Eiffel Tower during the incident. CNN also reported the evacuation, citing police sources.
The BBC has not independently verified these evacuations or their status as of 16:00.
The Eiffel Tower, which served as the centerpiece for the grand finale of the Olympics opening ceremony, was not scheduled to be featured in the closing ceremony later that day.
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