France’s Interior minister expresses his outrage after an individual lit a cigarette from the memorial flame in the French capital

France’s Interior minister expresses his outrage after an individual lit a cigarette from the memorial flame in the French capital - A man has been arrested after lighting a cigarette from the memorial flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris. France’s Interior minister referred to the incident as “indecent and pathetic”. The video was widely shared on social media. The alleged infraction took place on Monday evening, and the man was arrested on Tuesday afternoon.  The tomb, under the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Champs-Elysées, contains the remains of a soldier killed in the First World War, laid there as a tribute to France’s dead. A tourist who was at the scene told French newspaper Le Figaro that the man did not appear drunk and seemed to be well aware of what he was doing. The newspaper later reported that the arrested man was homeless and known to police. If found guilty, he faces up to a year in prison and a fine of up to €15,000.

 

 

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