In the early hours of Sunday, April 13, 2025, German police apprehended six individuals—five French men aged between 18 and 27 and a 26-year-old Belgian woman—who attempted to illegally climb Cologne’s iconic cathedral.
The group was detected by the cathedral’s private security, who noticed them with headlamps via surveillance cameras. Police responded promptly, surrounding the cathedral with officers in riot gear and deploying a helicopter over the northern dome. The climbers were eventually detained inside the cathedral’s stairwell.
Authorities confiscated a camera, a cellphone, and a lock pick. During their search, they discovered several doors that had been forcibly opened and backpacks containing climbing equipment.
The Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Northern Europe’s most significant Catholic pilgrimage sites and Germany’s most iconic religious building. The detained individuals are currently under investigation for trespassing and property damage.
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