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A Moroccan national was arrested Tuesday evening in Paris for desecrating a monument dedicated to the memory of the deceased. Earlier that day, he had been identified in a video lighting a cigarette using the flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The latter holds an unidentified member of the French armed forces killed during the First World War, to symbolically commemorate all soldiers who have died for France throughout history.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau confirmed the individual had been taken into custody and confessed to the act. While he did not disclose the man's nationality, he stated that the offender would be brought to justice.
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
According to Le Figaro, «the suspect is a Moroccan well-known to the police». The man is reportedly homeless but «legally residing in France until October 2025». Under the French Penal Code, the offense is punishable by up to one year in prison and a €15,000 fine.
In the video, the man is seen crossing barriers and kneeling on the overturned shield above the tomb. He uses the eternal flame to light his cigarette, then climbs back over the fence and walks away, in full view of several people paying tribute at the site. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located beneath the Arc de Triomphe, has honored those who died for France in World War I since November 11, 1920.
Le Figaro further reports that the suspect has «21 entries in the criminal record database», including for car theft, vandalism, assault, and racially aggravated public insults.
The footage was reportedly filmed on the evening of Monday, August 4, and later posted on TikTok.
