Outrage as Man Lights Cigarette from Eternal Flame at Arc de Triomphe, Sparking Diplomatic Incident

A surreal scene in front of about ten people who had come to contemplate the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a tomb installed under the Arc de Triomphe since November 11, 1920 in memory of the soldiers who died for France during the First World War. A man "passes the barriers to go and kneel on the overturned shield where the flame crackles, and use the fire to light his cigarette, before climbing over the railings again, without saying a word or turning back," reports Le Figaro. A video showing the scene that was filmed by a Latvian tourist and was published on Tuesday, August 5 around 7:30 am, on the social network Tiktok has shocked the French.

Several Rassemblement national officials, such as the European deputy and party spokesman Matthieu Valet, have denounced a gesture that "defiles the memory of our soldiers who shed their blood for our freedom." The association "La Flamme sous l’Arc de Triomphe" in charge of the ceremony to rekindle it every evening at 6:30 pm is in a state of shock. "There are things that we do not touch. The flame is one of them, unless you are hostile to France. This soldier is our honor," denounces General de Saint Chamas, president of the flame.

He adds: "This flame has been there for 100 years, and the gesture of rekindling it is very symbolic: every evening, we pay tribute to the soldiers who fell in 1914 and up to today, to the soldiers who serve and who have signed the same contract as those who fell for France." On X, the Minister Delegate for Memory and Veterans Affairs, Patricia Mirallès, condemned the act: "We do not impunely trample on the memory of France." She announced at the beginning of the evening that she had referred the matter to the justice system "so that this individual is found and that exemplary sanctions are taken."

This individual was arrested on the Avenue de la Grande-Armée. "The man who desecrated the tomb of the Unknown Soldier by lighting a cigarette with the flame of remembrance was arrested in Paris for violation of a grave, tomb, urn or monument erected in memory of the dead. He was taken into custody and admitted the facts," wrote Bruno Retailleau on X. He is a homeless Moroccan national in regular situation on French territory until October 2025, well known to the police services. He has 21 entries in the criminal record processing file. These include car theft, vandalism, violence or public insult on the grounds of race.

After his arrest, the Moroccan was taken into custody. "Following the report made by the prefect of police," the accused "will be presented to the justice system," adds the Minister of the Interior. "He did not appear to be drunk or under the influence of drugs. On the contrary, he was clearly aware of what he was doing, and proud to have done it," assures the one who presents herself as the author of the video.

According to information from Europe 1, the French Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, will withdraw his residence permit.