Eiffel Tower evacuated after climber spotted scaling monument
AFP - [email protected]
Published: 20 May, 2019 CET.
Updated: Mon 20 May 2019 17:06 CET
The Eiffel Tower was evacuated on Monday afternoon after a person was spotted climbing up the Paris landmark, the
company that operates the structure said.
"A climber has been spotted. It's the standard procedure: We have to stop the person, and in that case we evacuate the tower," an SETE official told AFP, adding that police were on the scene.
The tower’s twitter account announced that “the Eiffel Tower is currently closed until further notice. We kindly advise our visitors to postpone their visit."
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⚠️
?? La #tourEiffel est actuellement fermée jusqu'à nouvel ordre. Pour éviter une trop longue attente, nous conseillons à nos visiteurs de reporter leur visite.
?? The Eiffel Tower is currently closed until further notice. We kindly advise our visitors to postpone their visit.
— La tour Eiffel (@LaTourEiffel) May 20, 2019
The esplanade underneath the monument was also evacuated.
"We kindly advise our visitors to postpone their visit," the SETE added on Twitter.
Police have made contact with the climber but do not yet know why he began his ascent via the iron beams, a police source told AFP.
In October 2017 the tower was also evacuated after a young man ventured out on one of the beams and threatened to commit suicide, before police were able
to convince him to come back.
And back in 2014, The Local reported on the story of an intoxicated man who climbed some 30 metres up the Eiffel Tower before police convinced him to climb back down.
Nearly seven million people a year visit the 324-metre-high structure, which last week celebrated its 130th anniversary.
The first two floors can be reached by either elevator or stairs, but only elevators whisk people to the top observation deck.
? #TourEiffel évacuée. Un homme a été aperçu en train d’escalader le monument depuis le deuxième étage. Quartier bouclé par les forces de l’ordre. Évitez le secteur. pic.twitter.com/ozsGLQPfou
— Raphaël MAILLOCHON (@Raph_journalist) May 20, 2019
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"A climber has been spotted. It's the standard procedure: We have to stop the person, and in that case we evacuate the tower," an SETE official told AFP, adding that police were on the scene.
The tower’s twitter account announced that “the Eiffel Tower is currently closed until further notice. We kindly advise our visitors to postpone their visit."
READ ALSO:
⚠️
— La tour Eiffel (@LaTourEiffel) May 20, 2019
?? La #tourEiffel est actuellement fermée jusqu'à nouvel ordre. Pour éviter une trop longue attente, nous conseillons à nos visiteurs de reporter leur visite.
?? The Eiffel Tower is currently closed until further notice. We kindly advise our visitors to postpone their visit.
The esplanade underneath the monument was also evacuated.
"We kindly advise our visitors to postpone their visit," the SETE added on Twitter.
Police have made contact with the climber but do not yet know why he began his ascent via the iron beams, a police source told AFP.
In October 2017 the tower was also evacuated after a young man ventured out on one of the beams and threatened to commit suicide, before police were able
to convince him to come back.
And back in 2014, The Local reported on the story of an intoxicated man who climbed some 30 metres up the Eiffel Tower before police convinced him to climb back down.
Nearly seven million people a year visit the 324-metre-high structure, which last week celebrated its 130th anniversary.
The first two floors can be reached by either elevator or stairs, but only elevators whisk people to the top observation deck.
? #TourEiffel évacuée. Un homme a été aperçu en train d’escalader le monument depuis le deuxième étage. Quartier bouclé par les forces de l’ordre. Évitez le secteur. pic.twitter.com/ozsGLQPfou
— Raphaël MAILLOCHON (@Raph_journalist) May 20, 2019
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