Three individuals associated with the placement of five coffins at the base of the Eiffel Tower in Paris have been released from custody pending further investigation. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, prompted initial questioning by an investigative judge, with the prosecutor’s office requesting charges of premeditated violence. However, the investigating judge ultimately declined to file charges, instead designating the three as assisted witnesses under French law. They will remain free as the investigation continues.
The incident occurred as France remains on high alert ahead of the Olympic Games, which are set to begin in eight weeks. The Eiffel Tower is expected to be a prominent feature of the Games, with the Olympic rings set to be displayed on its structure and Olympic medals being embedded with pieces of iron from the monument.
The placement of the coffins has raised concerns and follows other strange incidents in recent months, including the appearance of graffiti on the Paris Holocaust Memorial and stencils of blue Stars of David on buildings in the city. French authorities have accused Russian security services of stirring up controversy around these incidents.
The motive behind the placement of the coffins remains unclear. The individuals involved include a 39-year-old Bulgarian driver, a 25-year-old German man, and a 16-year-old Ukrainian who was arrested on a Paris-Berlin bound Flixbus. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to be released as they become available.
