Eiffel Tower evacuated after bomb alert, reopens after 2 hours

The Eiffel Tower was evacuated on Friday over a bomb alert, management at the Paris tourist spot said, but was reopened to the public a couple of hours later.

Visitors to the Paris landmark were all asked to leave at 1230 GMT after the unspecified alert, and the monument was reopened at 1430 GMT after police determined it was safe.

Eiffel Tower

Police sent a bomb disposal unit to inspect the monument, but the team found nothing suspicious.

Built in 1889, the 1,062-foot tall tower sees approximately 7 million visitors each year.

Security threats at Paris landmarks are common, although today's incident comes at a particularly sensitive time after the United States issued a global terror alert.