Eiffel Tower shut in security alert

THE Eiffel Tower was closed for six hours on Sunday amid reports of an intruder climbing the tower before opening time.

Queues several hundred metres long formed at each of the four bases as information boards showed the message: "Opening delayed" - before a security perimeter was set up.

A security source told Le Parisien: "An individual was spotted inside the tower with a backpack. To avoid any doubt, a helicopter was called in to carry out a full inspection."

A police officer on the scene told the paper that the intruder could have been an extreme sports fan attempting a parachute jump from the top of the monument.

However, no one was found and the tower reopened to the public shortly before 15.00.