In a surprising incident, a man in Paris was filmed lighting a cigarette at a war memorial, leading to public outrage. The 47-year-old Moroccan man was arrested and criticized by Home Minister Bruno Reciro, who described his behavior as “vulgar and pathetic.”
Footage of the event, taken near the popular Arc de Triomphe, shows the man using the memorial flame to light his cigarette, an act that sparked significant anger online.
He was detained for violating laws related to burial sites and memorials. Following his arrest, the French Ministry of Home Affairs indicated that he would lose his residence permit, according to a report from Politico.
The Unknown Soldiers War Memorial honors soldiers who fell during World War I and is located under the Arc de Triomphe.
In the video, the man appears to kneel at the memorial, leaning close to the flames as startled tourists observe his actions.
It has been reported that he had legal residency in France and was previously known to law enforcement.
Patricia Mirales, the Deputy Minister for Memory and Veteran Affairs, expressed her outrage in a post, calling the act “blasphemous,” as it disrespected a sacred site commemorating fallen soldiers.
