France’s favourite stand-up comedian has been forced to apologise for claiming that the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US seven years ago tomorrow were an “enormous lie” orchestrated by the American government.

The allegations by Jean-Marie Bigard have caused consternation in France because the comedian – who specialises in foul-mouthed, scatological and sexist humour – is a close friend of President Nicolas Sarkozy.

On a radio show last Friday, the comedian interrupted a discussion on American politics, to say that it was “absolutely sure and certain” that the US government had stage-managed the 9/1l attacks in which 2, 896 people died.

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“The two planes which crashed in a forest and on the Pentagon never existed. There never were any planes. It’s an absolutely enormous lie,” M. Bigard said.

“It was an American missile which hit the Pentagon. That’s now been proved. It was a programmed demolition.”

Asked by the presenter of the show on Europe 1 radio where he found his information, M. Bigard replied “the internet”.

In a statement to Agence France-Presse yesterday, M. Bigard said that he wanted to “apologise to everyone”.

“I will never speak again about the events of 11 September,” he said. “I will never express any more doubts.”

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