-
Photos: Hail, floods and lightning after storms hit France
Violent thunderstorms on July 25 come after weeks of hot weather
-
Satellite photos reveal scale of recent wildfires in France
Before-and-after images show extent of damage
-
EasyJet cabin crew in France file strike notice
Unions act after failed talks with management
Man arrested for plane bomb joke
French tourist has spent six days in custody in Abu Dhabi after comments about a bomb on flight from Paris to Bangkok
A RETIRED French tourist has been arrested on a plane from Paris to Bangkok for joking that there was a bomb on board.
Jean-Louis Lioret, 66, has spent the past six days in custody in Abu Dhabi - where the Etihad Airways flight was making a scheduled stop.
An airport spokesman said the passenger had twice told cabin crew that his suitcase contained a bomb.
However Mr Lioret's brother Michel - who had a brief phone conversation with him at the weekend - said he had merely joked with a fellow passenger about a package on a vacant seat, saying: "I hope it's not a bomb."
The French foreign ministry in Paris said it was paying close attention to the case. Representatives are due to fly out today to check on Mr Lioret's condition.
