Eiffel Tower to be surrounded by glass wall
March 28, 2017Paris' iconic Eiffel Tower will be surrounded by a 2.5-meter-high (eight-foot-high) bulletproof glass wall to prevent terror attacks, the city has announced on Monday. The 20-million-euro ($21.4-million) barrier is to replace existing metal fences that were installed for the Euro 2016 football tournament.
"We have three aims: Improve the look, make access easier and strengthen the protection of visitors and staff," Jean-Francois Martins, a city official, said. The glass will serve as an aesthetic substitute for the metal fencing, which was "useful in security matters," but "spoiled the view."
A statement from Paris City Hall said the transparent bulletproof panels would replace the existing fences at the north and south of the 324-meter (1,063-foot) monument, which is visited by several million people each year. The proposal was part of a 300-million-euro project announced in January to modernize the 128-year-old tower.
is/ks (afp)