A man was arrested in Paris yesterday for lighting his cigarette in the flame burning at the monument of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe.
The incident was captured on video that went viral. The images show the man trespassing, bending over, lighting a cigarette and walking away, watched by stunned tourists.
According to local media, the smoker is Hamdi Hakim from Marocco.
🔴 FLASH | L'homme qui a allumé sa CLOPE avec la flamme du Soldat inconnu est Hamdi Hakim, Marocain, titre de séjour valide jusqu'à fin octobre 2025 et 21 MENTIONS AU TAJ (vol, violence, outrage, rébellion, injure..) (VA)pic.twitter.com/ZDhlmcSx6A
— SIRÈNES (@SirenesFR) August 5, 2025
The incident was condemned by French officials as desecration of a national war memorial, and sparked outrage across France.
The Interior Minister Bruno Retaillo posted on X:
“The man who desecrated the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by lighting a cigarette with the flame of the monument was arrested in Paris for violating the monument erected in memory of the dead. He was arrested and confessed. Following a report made by the Police Chief (article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure), he will be brought to justice. “This undignified and despicable act undermines the memory of those who died for France,”.
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
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