Eiffel Tower evacuated following attack threat

Famous Eiffel Tower in Paris has been evacuated on Saturday evening following an anonymous phone-call threatening an attack.

An estimated 1,400 people were visiting the site when France’s anti-terrorism police made the decision to clear it.

Eiffel Tower has been evacuated following an anonymous phone-call threatening an attack

A security perimeter was set up around the world-famous monument and police said a search could take several hours, French media reported.

The Eiffel Tower has been threatened several times in recent years. In 2011, 4,000 people were cleared from it.

L’Express news website said that tourists and staff were told to come down from the tower at around 19:00 local time on Saturday.

Security guards were also ordered to leave, a decision described as unusual.

Police then searched the area with sniffer dogs for possible explosives.

Security has recently been stepped up across the country amid concerns about threats to France over its military campaign in Mali.