Robbie Williams was assaulted Wednesday night while on stage at a concert in Germany. An unidentified man, said to have psychiatric problems, pushed Williams off the stage at Stuttgart's Schleyerhalle stadium while he was singing.

Williams reportedly fell five feet into a security pit at the front of the stage. After a scuffle with one of Williams' band members, the attacker fell into the security pit as well, where the security staff detained him. Following the incident, Williams, who was unhurt, returned to the stage and performed six more songs, completing his set.

As for the twenty-year-old German man, police say that he gained access to the stage from the backstage area, though they do not know how the breach of security occurred. He was arrested and underwent psychological evaluation and is currently being held in a psychiatric clinic while local prosecutors determine whether to charge him with assault.

CHRISTINA SARACENO
(February 23, 2001)