French Santa arrested for threatening Christmas tree vendor

Agence France-Presse

BORDEAUX, France - A French Santa spent several hours in custody after threatening a Christmas tree seller who set up shop next to his grotto in Bordeaux, an official said Monday.

The market employee, dressed as Father Christmas, threatened the vendor, who happened to be his nephew, with an unloaded gun at the market in Bordeaux, southern France, starting an altercation on Sunday.

"It's a family problem," market spokeswoman Florence Cambon told AFP.

The arrested Pere Noel was released later in the day, but his pine-tree selling nephew has filed an official complaint.

"From tomorrow (Tuesday) we will have a new Father Christmas until December 24," Cambon promised.