Police smoking at Notre Dame

ARMED French police stationed outside Notre Dame Cathedral have been seen smoking openly while on duty.

This is despite revelations that the devastating blaze that almost destroyed the Parisian landmark might have been caused by a discarded cigarette.

A video shot in a secure no- smoking zone around the building on Friday shows an officer puffing away on the historic Double Bridge, which crosses the Seine and leads to the cathedral. He then strolls towards Notre Dame, and tosses his cigarette butt into a dustbin.

The witness who made the video said: ‘It all looked very casual and careless. The officer didn’t seem fussed about fire precautions, which are currently very strict indeed around Notre Dame.’ They added: ‘None of his colleagues seemed to care either. This is despite the risk of fire around Notre Dame still being extremely high.’

A criminal enquiry has been on-going since April 15 – the day the fire started – and renovators who were restoring the cathedral have already confessed to smoking illegally on site. Police also found seven discarded cigarette butts on the roof – where the fire broke out. Any proof that a discarded cigarette butt led to the fire could result in prosecution.