France: Eiffel Tower evacuated due to knife wielding man August 5

Event

A man attempted to breach security at the Eiffel Tower while brandishing a knife on the night of Saturday, August 5, leading to the tower being briefly evacuated. Security forces surrounded the attacker who surrendered shortly after. The man, who was recently discharged from a psychiatric hospital, is under investigation for glorifying terrorism.

Authorities stated that the man is not part of any larger network or connected to any terrorist organization. Security is likely to remain tight at all major monuments.

Context

France has been under a state of emergency since the November 13, 2015, terrorist attacks in the Paris region that killed 130 people. On June 6, a man armed with a hammer attacked a police officer in front of Notre Dame Cathedral; the officer was lightly wounded and the assailant was shot and killed. On April 20, a shooting targeting French police on the Avenue des Champs Elysées left one officer dead; the assailant was killed. In March, an armed man briefly took a French soldier hostage at Orly Airport before being shot dead.

Advice

All those present in Paris are advised to monitor developments to the situation, to avoid the affected area while police operations and investigations are ongoing, and to adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.