This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A climber known as the “French Spiderman” has been arrested after scaling one of London’s tallest buildings.

Alain Robert ascended the 202-metre (662ft) Salesforce Tower – formerly the Heron Tower – in the City of London without a rope or other safety equipment.

Police arrived at 1.37pm, set up a cordon around the building and ushered the growing crowd to move back and keep out of the road.

Robert reached the top at 2.14pm and raised his arms to cheers from below. City of London police said they arrested a 56-year-old man on suspicion of causing public nuisance.

Commander Karen Baxter condemned the stunt. “The incident this afternoon has had a considerable impact on police, other emergency services and the local community. Our officers, the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service all attended this incident, taking them away from genuine emergencies,” she said.

“Road closures meant a significant disturbance to local transport and businesses and their staff located in the building were also considerably affected.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A videograb taken with permission from the Twitter feed of @RazlilNicky. Photograph: @RazlilNicky/Twitter/PA

Robert had earlier spoken to the media about his climb. He said: “I fully feel alive when my life is at stake. It may sound a bit scary and crazy but this is the way it is.”

It is understood he chose which building he would tackle from a shortlist of three on Monday.

“I saw it. I touched it a bit. I tried it just a tiny bit. I am not really knowing much. It is only really when I start climbing that I know. I need to feel it,” he said.

“There has been 44 years in which I have been climbing. This is what I know as a way of living and expressing myself and living my dreams, my passion and living my life as fully as I can. Definitely it is dangerous. I have a certain knowledge. I have a solid background.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Robert approaching the top of the tower. Photograph: Ana Cross/Rex/Shutterstock

Robert turned his attention to skyscrapers in the mid-1990s and has done about 160 ascents to date, according to his manager. Landmarks previously tackled include Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, Taiwan’s Taipei 101 and the Lloyds building in London.

His manager, Bryan Yeubrey, said after Thursday’s climb: “I am really glad. I think it would have been a much tougher climb than he thought. I am always glad when he is safe after these things.

“Now he will be arrested and go to court. Hopefully they will not be too hard on him because actually he is a really good guy.”