Police in Rio de Janeiro arrested two French tourists who had climbed the 38-meter-high city landmark.
The media reported on Thursday evening (local time).
The men, aged 27 and 28, had hidden in the surrounding woods after visiting the Christ the Redeemer on Sunday evening and gained unauthorized access to the statue during the night.
They face legal consequences.
The tourists stayed overnight on the Corcovado mountain, on which the Christ statue stands.
Via an eight-meter-high scaffolding, they reached an access door that led into the interior of the statue.
They are said to have broken a lock for this.
According to reports, they got on one arm of the statue via a maintenance exit.
From there they filmed the sunrise over Rio de Janeiro, but were spotted by a security guard.
The tourists are also said to have climbed on the head of the statue.
Similar actions in Dubai, Hong Kong and Paris
The 500 square meter property on the mountain top belongs to the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro.
This did not want to comment on the incident to the press.
However, the case will be accompanied by the French consulate, according to the media reports.
The two tourists were released on bail.
Media reported that the two tourists from the Paris region had already carried out similar actions in Dubai, Hong Kong and Paris.
This is how they should have climbed the Eiffel Tower.
According to the information, they publish their actions in social networks and on a YouTube channel.
The police had confiscated the recordings made high up from the Christ in Rio.
“But the view was great.
Few people have the chance to see that, ”one of the two told the local newspaper“ O Dia ”.
The statue of Christ with outspread arms on the 710 meter high Corcovado is a World Heritage Site and Brazil's most famous religious landmark. The statue on an eight meter high pedestal attracts around two million visitors every year. She will celebrate her 90th birthday on October 12, 2021. It is currently being renovated for this purpose.