10 Feb 2017

Bulletproof glass wall to protect Eiffel Tower

5:46 pm on 10 February 2017

The Eiffel Tower in Paris is to have a 2.5 metre-high wall of reinforced glass built around it as protection against terror attacks, officials say.

Security gates were put up at the Eiffel Tower last year. A 2.5 meter-high bullet-proof glass is to be set around the Eiffel Tower to protect it and secure its access later in 2017.

The bulletproof glass will be put in place later this year and will replace the metal fences that were put up for the Euro 2016 football tournament. Photo: AFP

The Paris mayor's office said the wall would replace metal fences put up for the Euro 2016 football tournament.

The project, if approved, is expected to cost about €20m and work should start later this year.

The French capital has been on high alert since attacks by jihadists in November 2015 left 130 people dead.

Last July, 86 people were killed when a lorry ploughed through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the southern city of Nice.

The Eiffel Tower, one of France's most famous landmarks, attracts more than six million visitors each year and the wall was designed to stop individuals or vehicles storming the site, said the assistant mayor for tourism, Jean-Francois Martins.

"The terror threat remains high in Paris and the most vulnerable sites, led by the Eiffel Tower, must be the object of special security measures," he said.

"We will replace the metal grids to the north and south with glass panels which will allow Parisians and visitors a very pleasant view of the monument."

Mr Martins added: "We have three aims - to improve the look, make access easier and strengthen the protection of visitors and staff."

The project will also involve reorganising pathways around the tower.

Earlier this month, a man wielding two machetes attacked soldiers at Paris's Louvre Museum.

President Francois Hollande said there was little doubt it was a terrorist act.

- BBC

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