Outlaw climber makes 2nd Malaysia attempt

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, March 20 (UPI) -- A Frenchman's second effort to scale the world's tallest building barehanded Tuesday ended like his first one, in a Malaysian jail.

Robert "Spiderman" Alain returned to the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur on the 10th anniversary of his first try, the Bernama news agency reported. He started his climb at 3 p.m., with his only equipment some white powder to help him sustain a firm grip.

Alain made his first attempt on them in 1997 while interior construction was still under way.

Faizal Hanif, a sightseer in the area, said he saw Alain when he was at the third floor and assumed he was a workman. But he noticed that a large crowd was gathering to watch.

Police met Alain at the 60th floor and convinced him to give up -- just as they did in 1997 on the same floor. The crowd cheered as he waved a Malaysian flag before being handcuffed and taken away to answer charges of climbing without a permit.

Alain has climbed many of the world's famous buildings, usually as an outlaw although he has been paid for promotional climbs. He is also the subject of a documentary film, "Alain Robert Is Spiderman."