A British man who climbed the Eiffel Tower on the last day of the Paris Olympics has been released from police custody but remains under investigation for trespassing at a historical site, French prosecutors confirmed on Monday. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon when police evacuated the area around the iconic 330-meter tall landmark after a shirtless man was spotted scaling it just hours before the closing ceremony of the 2024 Summer Games.
The man's point of entry for the climb remains unknown, but he was observed above the Olympic rings on the second section of the tower, located just above the first viewing deck. Law enforcement intervened promptly and arrested the individual. Prosecutors have initiated an investigation into charges of endangering the lives of others and trespassing at a historical or cultural site, as stated by the Paris public prosecutor’s office. The suspect, a British national, had the police custody order lifted on Monday.
The Eiffel Tower played a central role in the extravagant opening ceremony on the River Seine, featuring a performance by Celine Dion from one of its viewing areas. While the tower was a prominent symbol throughout the two and a half weeks of Olympic competition, it was not part of the closing ceremony, which took place at the Stade de France stadium in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis.
To ensure safety on the final day of the Olympics and during the star-studded closing show at France’s national stadium, over 30,000 police officers and security personnel were deployed across Paris. The incident involving the British man's climb has drawn attention to security measures at historical landmarks and the need for vigilance in safeguarding such sites.
For more updates and coverage on the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, visit the AP Olympics hub at AP Olympics.
