On Tuesday afternoon, two American tourists filed a complaint after being assaulted near the Eiffel Tower—allegedly with miniature replicas of the iconic monument. The incident involved souvenir street vendors who were reportedly targeting visitors in the area.
According to sources, one suspect was apprehended shortly after the altercation and taken into custody at the police station in Paris’s 7th arrondissement. “We need to remain cautious about this arrest,” said a source close to the investigation. “The individual matches the description, but the inquiry is still in its early stages.”
The incident occurred around 3 p.m., as a group of tourists gathered at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, between Quai Jacques-Chirac and Avenue de Suffren. The two brothers involved, aged 24 and 28, are reportedly very active on social media and had begun filming.
“Preliminary findings suggest they were recording street vendors with their phones,” the same source added. “The exact motive remains unclear.”
Facial injury reported
Things quickly escalated. A verbal dispute broke out, and one of the brothers was struck in the face with a small Eiffel Tower souvenir, resulting in a bleeding cut. By the time police arrived, the vendors involved had already fled the scene.
Firefighters were called in to administer first aid. “The injuries were relatively minor, and the brothers declined to be taken to the hospital,” said a first responder.
“It’s not uncommon for conflicts to arise between vendors over territory,” said a police officer. “But assaults on tourists by souvenir sellers are relatively rare.”