A British man who attempted to climb the Eiffel Tower on the final day of the Paris Olympics has been released from police custody but remains under investigation, French prosecutors confirmed on Monday.
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon as the man, reportedly shirtless, was seen scaling the iconic 330-meter (1,083-foot) tower shortly before the closing ceremony of the 2024 Summer Games. Eyewitnesses reported seeing him above the Olympic rings on the second level of the tower, which was decorated for the event. Police quickly intervened and arrested the climber.
French prosecutors have launched an investigation into the incident, charging the man with “endangering the lives of other people and trespassing at a historical or cultural site.” The Paris public prosecutor’s office did not disclose the suspect’s identity but confirmed his British nationality.
The Eiffel Tower, a central feature of the opening ceremony on the River Seine, did not play a role in the closing ceremony, which took place at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. On the last day of the Olympics, over 30,000 police officers and security personnel were deployed across Paris to ensure public safety and manage the high-profile events.
