Eiffel Tower Closed Evacuated after Man Spotted Climbing

Eiffel Tower Closed, Evacuated after Man Spotted Climbing

Officials closed the Eiffel Tower Monday afternoon and began evacuating visitors after a man was spotted climbing the tower.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • May 21, 2019

Officials closed the Eiffel Tower Monday afternoon and began evacuating visitors after a man was spotted climbing the tower. It’s not yet clear why the man was scaling the tower, which is 1,062 feet (324 meters) tall, or about the size of an 81-story building.

"The Eiffel Tower has been closed and is in the process of being evacuated because a person is scaling it," a spokeswoman for the Paris landmark said earlier in the day, according to CNN.

A Paris police spokeswoman said a team of firefighters, including a climbing specialist, was present and in touch with the trespassing climber.

According to the Associated Press, it wasn’t yet clear how the trespassing climber was able to get past the tower’s strict security system. In 2017, a protective, bullet-resistant glass wall—about 2.5 inches thick—was erected around the tower’s base as an added security measure.

The tower has been evacuated before; twice in 2010 due to bomb threats and once in 2013 due to security concerns. The tower was also closed for two days after the 2015 terror attacks in Paris.

Officials have not provided further information on the incident or about when the Eiffel Tower will reopen.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

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