The Eiffel Tower has been evacuated over a reported bomb threat.
A large area around the Paris landmark has been cordoned off by police, with people urged to stay away from the area.
French media reported that police were given an anonymous tip at around 12pm local time (11am in the UK) that a bomb had been placed in the tower.
A police investigation is now underway in the seventh arrondissement, where the tower is located, local publication Actu reported.
French journalist Amaury Bucco tweeted: "Perimeter of Tour Eiffel cordoned off, police operation in progress," citing a police source.
Mr Bucco also claimed that "a man threatens to blow everything up" but this has not been confirmed.
Yves Pozzo di Borgo, who was a member of the Board of Directors of the Eiffel Tower from 2000-2020, said the tower takes security very seriously.
He told the Standard: "The officials... take a lot of security measures out of prudence.
"We had a protective glass wall built around the Eiffel Tower [in 2018]".
This is not the first time the iconic tourist attraction has been faced with terrorism threats.
In May 2018 visitors to the tower were evacuated due to a bomb threat that police later found to be a hoax.
June 2017 saw a suspicious package left in the tower, which was later determined not to be dangerous.
The tower was also evacuated twice in September 2010 due to bomb threats that were eventually outed as hoaxes.
The Standard has contacted the management company of the Eiffel Tower for comment.
More to follow...
