'French Spiderman' arrested after tower stunt snarls London's financial hub

French urban freeclimber Alain Robert was arrested Thursday after bringing parts of London's financial district to a standstill by scaling the 46-storey Heron Tower -- the area's tallest building.

The 56-year-old so-called "French Spiderman" took around an hour to climb the 230-metre high tower without ropes or safety equipment, while traffic came to a halt as bemused crowds packed the streets below.

Police in the City of London, the capital's square-mile financial centre, confirmed he was then arrested "for causing a public nuisance" and remained in custody Thursday afternoon.

"This is what I love to do," Robert had told a handful of reporters at a nearby hotel shortly before beginning his ascent.

"I have pretty much dedicated my whole life to climb mountains, to climb cliffs, and now to climb buildings -- but always 'free soloing', meaning I'm not using safety devices." The maverick climber has scaled more than 100 structures globally -- including several in London previously -- setting a record for "most buildings climbed unassisted," according to Guinness World Records.

Earlier this year, he was forced to abandon climbing the world's fifth-tallest tower in Seoul, South Korea, after the 123-storey building's security confronted him halfway up.

Robert admitted Thursday he was "very nervous", adding he always felt anxious ahead of an ascent.

"When I start climbing it's OK, because I know I'm going to be completely focused," he added.

"But at this point of time I'm a little bit shaky."
"They always arrest me," he added. "(In) '95 they were nice, and then after (it) started to get more complicated after 9/11 and everything."