Two American tourists have been discovered sleeping inside the Eiffel Tower after becoming stranded while under the influence of alcohol, according to statements from prosecutors.

Security guards located the two men during the early hours of Monday. The individuals had purchased tickets to ascend the iconic Parisian landmark around 22:40 (21:40 BST) on Sunday, and while descending, they crossed security barriers.

They were located in an area between the tower's second and third levels that is typically off-limits to the public. Paris prosecutors conveyed to the AFP news agency that the men "appear to have become stuck due to their level of intoxication."

A specialized firefighter unit skilled in rescuing people from heights was dispatched to retrieve the men, as reported by the agency. The tower's usual opening time of 09:00 was delayed due to the discovery of the inebriated duo. Sete, the publicly-owned operator of the Eiffel Tower, clarified that the men did not pose any threat.

Both tourists were interrogated by the Parisian police, and Sete announced its intention to file a criminal complaint. This incident follows two bomb scares on Saturday, which led to the evacuation of the tower twice in a single day. French authorities have initiated an investigation after false bomb threats were posted on a gaming site and a platform for online interaction between citizens and the police. The Eiffel Tower, erected in the 1880s and standing at a height of 984 feet (300 meters), attracted 5.8 million visitors last year. Photo by Benh LIEU SONG, Wikimedia commons.