• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

French 'Spider-Man' Climbs 31-Story Tower

Posted on: Wednesday, 15 March 2006, 12:00 CST

BAGNOLET, France - French skyscraper climber Alain Robert scaled a 31-floor office building outside Paris on Wednesday using only his bare hands, his last climb before spending a week in prison in Texas.

Robert was arrested in Houston in November on charges of trespassing and drug possession as he was about to climb the 46-floor One Houston Center. Police said they believed Robert was carrying the sedative Xanax, while the climber says it was a prescription anti-epilepsy medication.

Robert said his effort Wednesday was a protest against the court decision ordering him to serve prison time.

"I don't really understand why they are charging me with criminal trespass, as I didn't even climb," Robert said before ascending one of the 400-foot Mercurial Towers in the suburb of Bagnolet. He wore a skintight black and yellow outfit covered with advertisements.

Robert has climbed more than 70 of the world's tallest structures, including the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, with his bare hands and without a safety net.

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

More News in this Category