French 'spiderman' arrested in Frankfurt skyscraper climb

French urban climber Alain Robert, popularly known as the "French Spiderman", climbs the 38-storey (154metres) Skyper building in Frankfurt am Main, on September 28, 2019. PHOTO | DANIEL ROLAND | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Robert, 57, has climbed the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
  • In August, he climbed a Hong Kong skyscraper and unfolded a "peace" banner

Frankfurt

Alain Robert, dubbed the French "Spiderman" for his exploits in climbing buildings around the world, was arrested Saturday in the German city of Frankfurt after scaling the "Skyper" tower, an AFP journalist reported.

French urban climber Alain Robert, popularly known as the "French Spiderman", climbs the 38-storey (154metres) Skyper building in Frankfurt am Main, on September 28, 2019. PHOTO | DANIEL ROLAND | AFP

Robert, 57, reached the top of 154-metre (500 feet), 42-floor building in just half an hour -- without permission nor safety equipment -- causing passersby to stop, stare and take photos.

French urban climber Alain Robert, popularly known as the "French Spiderman", at the top of the 38-storey (154metres) Skyper building in Frankfurt am Main, on September 28, 2019. PHOTO | DANIEL ROLAND | AFP

STUNNER

Back on the ground, police moved into to arrest Robert who has chalked up a series of similar stunts across the globe since 1994, among them the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

French urban climber Alain Robert, popularly known as the "French Spiderman", is led off the building after climbing the 38-storey (154metres) Skyper building in Frankfurt am Main, on September 28, 2019. PHOTO | DANIEL ROLAND | AFP

In August, he climbed a Hong Kong skyscraper and unfolded a "peace" banner as massive and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests rocked the city.

Saturday, he gave no reason for his Skyper climb.