Horror greets Jackson's baby dangling stunt

The pop star Michael Jackson astonished onlookers in Berlin yesterday when he dangled his nine-month-old son over a fifth floor hotel balcony.

After walking out on to the balcony to greet fans, the singer lifted his youngest child, Prince Michael II, over the railing and dangled him for a few seconds. Jackson, who is in Berlin to attend an awards ceremony, then returned to his hotel room with the baby, whose head was covered with a white cloth.

The existence of the baby was made public in August this year when he was reported to be six months old.

Mystery still surrounds the identity of the child's mother and the question of whether the infant is adopted.

Last night, an NSPCC spokeswoman advised people, "not to put babies or children at potential risk by dangling them over a balcony".

Jackson's friend Uri Geller said he would have to hear it from the singer's mouth before believing it was really a live child and his own son.

Earlier, the psychic said he suspected the child was a fake and that Jackson whom he described as "very protective" would never do such a thing.