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The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located beneath one of Paris’s most iconic monuments, holds the remains of a soldier killed in the First World War
A video of the act, which took place on Monday evening, shows the man crouching near the flame, lighting his cigarette, and walking away calmly as onlookers watched.
French authorities have said that it will take legal action against a man who lit a cigarette using the eternal flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The act, widely condemned by officials and the public alike, has sparked outrage across the country.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau on Tuesday confirmed that the man had been arrested in Paris.
“The man who desecrated the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by lighting a cigarette with the memorial flame was arrested in Paris for violating a burial site, tomb, urn, or monument erected in memory of the dead,” he wrote on social media platform X.
L’homme qui a profané la tombe du Soldat inconnu en allumant une cigarette avec la flamme du souvenir a été interpellé à Paris pour violation de sépulture, tombeau, urne ou monument édifié à la mémoire des morts. Il a été placé en garde à vue et a reconnu les faits. À la suite du…— Bruno Retailleau (@BrunoRetailleau) August 5, 2025
Retailleau further stated that the man have reportedly admitted to the offence while in police custody.
A video of the act, which took place on Monday evening, shows the man crouching near the flame, lighting his cigarette, and walking away calmly as onlookers watched. The footage spread quickly on social media, drawing sharp criticism from veterans, officials, and members of the public.
Patricia Miralles, France’s Minister for Veterans and Remembrance, has vowed to pursue legal action.
“I am filing a case immediately with the Paris state prosecutors so that this man will be found and sanctions imposed to make an example of him,” she posted on X. “You cannot ridicule French remembrance and get away with it.”
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located beneath one of Paris’s most iconic monuments, holds the remains of a soldier killed in the First World War and symbolises the sacrifice of all French soldiers who have died in war. The eternal flame is a solemn tribute that has burned continuously since 1923.
“This flame does not light a cigarette, it burns for the sacrifice of millions of our soldiers,” said Miralles. “This is an insult to our dead, to our history and to our nation.”
The video is believed to have been filmed by a Latvian tourist and first posted on TikTok. According to Le Figaro, the tourist said the man appeared sober and fully aware of his actions.
(With inputs from AFP)
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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