Six caught inside Cologne Cathedral in pre-dawn break-in

Police detained a group of six people with climbing gear who broke into the Cologne Cathedral early Sunday and made their way into one of the towers.

Police said five French men and one Belgian woman, aged between 18 and 27, were stopped in a stairwell of the cathedral a 2:50 am (0050 GMT).

Police were called to the scene after private surveillance cameras spotted several individuals with headlamps roaming inside the western German city's iconic landmark.

A helicopter was also deployed as part of the security response.

During a search of the premises, police found doors that had been forced opened and backpacks containing climbing gear.

The group is being investigated for trespassing and property damage.

Police confiscated a camera, a cell phone and a lock pick from a 27-year-old.