
Paris: The Eiffel Tower, an iconic and immensely popular tourist destination in Paris, was temporarily closed to the public on Saturday due to a precautionary measure prompted by a bomb threat. French police took swift action in evacuating the premises following the threat.
The organization responsible for managing the site, SETE, confirmed that bomb disposal experts and law enforcement personnel meticulously searched the area, including a restaurant situated on one of the tower’s levels. While such circumstances are uncommon, SETE clarified that the evacuation and search procedure is a standard practice during such instances.
Visitors were safely evacuated from all three floors of the tower, as well as the square beneath it. A security perimeter was swiftly established, redirecting pedestrian traffic away from the vicinity. The situation was brought under control within a span of two hours, leading to the reopening of the Eiffel Tower to the public.
#Paris, France; Eiffel Tower has reportedly just been evacuated due to a terroristic bomb threat. This story is developing.#EiffelTower 'France is no longer France' pic.twitter.com/hXy4kisNum
— Kanwaljit Arora (@mekarora) August 12, 2023
During the incident, police explosive experts were on-site to conduct comprehensive checks and inspections. The Company of Exploitation of the Monument (SETE) emphasized that while such occurrences are infrequent, the safety protocol employed is designed to ensure the security of all those in and around the monument.
The Eiffel Tower, including its three floors and the restaurant, were evacuated as a precaution, indicating the seriousness with which the authorities responded to the potential threat.