A man has been accused of "desecrating" Paris's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after using its eternal flame to light a cigarette.
In footage shared to social media, the man was seen stepping over protective barriers at the memorial designed to keep out members of the public.
The video shows the individual walking across the sacred site on the Champs-Élysées before crouching down to ignite his cigarette from the flame that has burned continuously since 1923.
His actions provoked widespread condemnation after the footage spread rapidly online, drawing sharp criticism from French Government officials who have pledged swift action against what they describe as a desecration of the nation's war memorial.
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|Shocking moment a man lights his cigarette from the flame at a war memorial
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau condemned the act on X, saying: "This unworthy and deplorable act undermines the memory of those who died for France."
Veterans Minister Patricia Miralles described the incident as a desecration rather than a mere transgression, declaring on X: "France will never tolerate tarnishing the memory of those who died for her.
"This is not a simple deviation, it is a desecration."
She subsequently announced her intention to pursue legal action, posting: "I am filing a case immediately with the Paris state prosecutor to make an example of him."
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|The memorial contains the body of an unidentified First World War serviceman and serves as France's principal tribute to fallen soldiers
According to Le Figaro, sources indicate that Retailleau plans to withdraw the individual's permission to remain in France.
The individual has been identified as a 47-year-old Moroccan national who holds legal residency in France through October 2025, as reported by Le Figaro.
Sources indicate the man had previous encounters with law enforcement.
Authorities have charged him with desecrating a burial site and memorial dedicated to the deceased, which carries potential penalties of up to twelve months' imprisonment and financial sanctions reaching €15,000.
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|The eternal flame at the site has remained alight for over a century, having first been kindled in 1923
The memorial contains the body of an unidentified First World War serviceman and serves as France's principal tribute to fallen soldiers.
This tribute is in many countries, including the UK and the US.
The eternal flame at the site has remained alight for over a century, having first been kindled in 1923.
During the First World War, the British and French armies, who were allies during the war, jointly decided to bury their soldiers themselves.
In the UK, the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior was created at Westminster Abbey, while in France La tombe du soldat inconnu was placed in the Arc de Triomphe.