Eiffel Tower Climber Sparks Evacuation Hours Before Olympics Closing Ceremony

French police evacuated the area around the Eiffel Tower after a man was seen climbing it just hours before the Olympics closing ceremony. Visitors were briefly locked on the second floor but were released 30 minutes later. The incident comes as security tightens for the event's conclusion.

French police evacuated a section near the Eiffel Tower after a man began climbing the iconic Parisian structure on Sunday afternoon, just hours before the Olympics closing ceremony.

The shirtless climber was spotted above the Olympic rings on the monument's second section. Police immediately cordoned off the area and escorted visitors away, with some briefly locked on the second floor before being allowed to exit.

This event occurred amid heightened security as over 30,000 officers were deployed throughout Paris to ensure safety for the closing ceremony at the Stade de France. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin confirmed 3,000 officers at the stadium and 20,000 more in Paris and Saint-Denis.

(With inputs from agencies.)