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The Eiffel Tower was evacuated last night after a knife-wielding man wearing a Paris Saint-Germain shirt reportedly shouted 'Allahu Akbar' before trying to force his way past security.

Police arrested the would-be-intruder at around 11.30pm, just half an hour before the tower stops admitting visitors.

Radio broadcaster France Info reported that the man pulled out a knife and shouted 'Allahu Akbar' in front of soldiers.

(Image: Getty Images Europe) (Image: Facebook/AurÃ©lien Weickert)

The man, who is reported to be a Frenchman born in the West African state of Mauritania, is believed to have been discharged from a psychiatric hospital in July.

A witness at the scene claimed that "people were running and police were screaming".

The man reportedly acted alone and is said to now be in police custody.

The company that manages the Paris landmark said in a statement Sunday that no one was hurt in the incident.

The tower was lit up with the team colours of PSG to welcome the arrival of Neymar.

France has been under a state of emergency since the November 2015 terrorist attacks on Paris restaurants, a concert venue and a stadium that left 130 people dead.