Eiffel Tower evacuated after suspicious package found

Paris' Eiffel Tower was briefly evacuated after a suspicious package alert at one of the world's most visited tourist sites, the monument's operating company said.

Some 3,000 people were evacuated before the alert was lifted at 1900 (1800 GMT) following searches, a company official said. The tower was to re-open later on Wednesday evening to visitors.

"The police didn't find anything," the official said.

Police said the tower was evacuated after they received an anonymous phone call.

The Eiffel Tower and surrounding area was evacuated twice in September after bomb alerts. Security officials said at the time France had received a tip-off of a planned suicide attack on the Paris urban transport network.