French driver targets pedestrian he mistook for bin Laden!
Wed Mar 17 2004 08:26:32 ET
A driver in the southern French city of Montpellier who tried to run down a pedestrian he believed was Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden on Tuesday was given a three-month suspended sentence.
On Monday, the driver, a 35-year-old craftsman, chased the would-be bin Laden through the streets of Montpellier, running a red light and driving through a pedestrian zone.
He only failed to hit the pedestrian when his car ran into a staircase.
The driver, who was not identified, said he had experienced a delirious episode, attributing his folly to current fears over the global terrorist threat.
The court in Montpellier also ordered the driver to seek counseling and pay 500 euros (615 dollars) in damages to the victim.
