The armed man who threatened to crash a stolen light plane into Frankfurt’s financial district, sowing fear of terrorist attack and prompting the evacuation of skyscrapers, is mentally disturbed, police said today.

A man stole a small plane at gunpoint then threatened to crash it into the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, sparking panic in the German financial capital.

IN A chilling reminder of the September 11 attacks, a man hijacked a light aircraft and threatened to crash into the European Central Bank tower in Frankfurt yesterday before landing and being arrested.