Drunk American Tourist Caught 'Sleeping Soundly' in Restricted Area of Eiffel Tower Faces Public Backlash

Eiffel Tower Operator "Plans Criminal Complaint"

Two Americans were caught sleeping drunk at the Eiffel Tower, a representative tourist attraction in Paris, France, and are facing public backlash.

On the 15th (local time), British BBC and others reported that two American tourists climbed the Eiffel Tower at 10:40 p.m. on the 13th and spent the night between the 2nd and 3rd floors after crossing a security barrier on their way down. It was reported that the place where they slept is a civilian-controlled area not usually open to tourists.

Eiffel Tower, a landmark in Paris, France.
[Image source=Pixabay]

They were discovered the next day by security guards patrolling before opening hours and were rescued by dispatched firefighters and high-altitude rescue personnel. They are currently being investigated at a nearby police station.

The Eiffel Tower operator, Sete, stated, "Two American tourists stayed overnight at the Eiffel Tower while intoxicated," adding, "Although no special incident occurred, we plan to file a criminal complaint." Due to the rescue operation for them, the Eiffel Tower opened later than the original opening time of 9 a.m. on the 14th.

Earlier, on the 12th, there was also a commotion at the Eiffel Tower when tourists and staff evacuated due to a bomb threat. A bomb disposal team was deployed in preparation for the worst-case scenario, but fortunately, it was proven to be a false alarm.

Meanwhile, the Eiffel Tower was built to commemorate the Paris Exposition held on the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution in 1889. The Eiffel Tower is a world-famous tourist attraction visited by 7 million people annually, with about three-quarters of the visitors being international tourists.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.