The area around the Eiffel Tower has been evacuated as a man has been spotted climbing the wrought-iron tower.
A spokesperson for the landmark said, “The Eiffel Tower has been closed and is in the process of being evacuated because a person is scaling it.”
Irish tourist Claire Murphy, who is on vacation in Paris, told CNN earlier ‘that the lockdown began at 2:15 p.m. local time and that she was still stuck on the tower’s top floor.’
It’s not clear what the motive may be but CNN also reported that firefighters at the scene ‘have established contact with the man climbing the tower’.
Update: Man in police custody for climbing Eiffel Tower
A climber is pictured between two iron columns of the #EiffelTower in #Paris. The Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors after the man tried to scale it today. #Paris 📸 Michel Euler/AP/Shutterstock pic.twitter.com/XTW4DjxKFs
— Shutterstock Editorial (@ShutterstockNow) May 20, 2019
In 2015, James Kingston and a friend climbed the landmark at night and filmed it with a Go Pro. According to Business Insider, the pair were spotted early on and had to hide in “a couple of holes inside the framework.” The made it to the top without any safety equipment and were arrested the following morning when they climbed down and were questioned by police. They were both released after six hours.
WHY WOULD YOU CLIMB UP THE EIFFEL TOWER pic.twitter.com/wynQOUl2vR
— Paige (@PaigeMcSorley) May 20, 2019
