A shirtless man scaling the Eiffel Tower in Paris prompted a mass evacuation of the iconic landmark hours before the Olympics closing ceremony on Sunday, CBS News reports.
The man was spotted climbing the 1,083-foot-tall tower just above the Olympic rings, prompting police to escort visitors away from the area around 3 p.m. local time.
While it is unclear where the climber began his ascent, he was spotted just above the first viewing deck, leading to a temporary lockdown of the second floor, before visitors were allowed to exit after about 30 minutes.
French authorities, already on high alert for the closing ceremony, acted swiftly to secure the Eiffel Tower, which was a central element in the opening ceremony last month.
With more than 30,000 police officers deployed throughout Paris, including 3,000 around the Stade de France where the closing ceremony will take place, security measures have been significantly heightened for the event.
The Paris Olympics concluded on Sunday with a dazzling closing ceremony at the Stade de France, which transitioned seamlessly into a preview of the upcoming 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
