British Man Climbs Eiffel Tower on Final Day of Paris Olympics, Under Investigation

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, according to French prosecutors. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, just hours before the closing ceremony of the 2024 Summer Games, prompting police to evacuate the area around the iconic landmark. Witnesses reported seeing the shirtless climber scaling the 330-meter (1,083-foot) tower, with some videos circulating on social media showing him above the Olympic rings. The police intervened shortly after he began his ascent, detaining him and escorting visitors away from the area. The exact point from which he started climbing remains unclear. French prosecutors have opened an investigation into the incident, citing charges of "endangering the lives of other people and trespassing at a historical or cultural site." The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, is a British national. The Eiffel Tower, which played a significant role during the Olympics, was not part of the closing ceremony held at Stade de France. On the day of the incident, over 30,000 police officers and security personnel were deployed across Paris to ensure safety during the final events of the Games. France's Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, confirmed that additional security measures were in place around the Stade de France, where the closing ceremony was set to take place later that evening.