Politician and paramedic held in connection with Travolta case

Authorities in the Bahamas are holding a senator and a paramedic in connection with an alleged plot to extort money from actor John Travolta after the death of his son, police said tonight.

One of the suspects, ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne, was detained today.

Earlier, several tabloids quoted him describing efforts to revive the celebrity's chronically ill son Jett, 16, who died of a seizure this month at their family home on Grand Bahama.

Authorities did not reveal what the alleged blackmail involved.

Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston returned home to Florida with the ashes of their son, and Travolta's publicist Paul Bloch said tonight he had no comment.

Senator Pleasant Bridgewater, a lawyer from Grand Bahama, has been held for questioning since Thursday, senior assistant commissioner of police Marvin Dames said.

Mr Dames said Lightbourne was detained after police issued an alert that he was wanted for attempted extortion, was "considered dangerous and should be approached with caution".

Another member of the Bahamas parliament, Obie Wilchcombe, was aiding the investigation.

Mr Dames said Wilchcombe, a friend of the Travolta family, was brought to a police station to help authorities determine what charges, if any, to file against the two suspects.