Cairo - Fire trucks rushed to one of the Egyptian capital's main squares on Thursday, only to find a crowd of curiosity seekers gawking at a man hanging from a wall by one bare hand.

German street performer Johan Lorbeer was putting on a display at the entrance of the Goethe Institute in central Cairo as part of an open day organized by the German cultural centre.

The arrival of the fire trucks sent a ripple of fright through the crowd.

It was later discovered that a neighbourhood resident made the emergency call thinking the crowd was due to a fire nearby.

Though he was hanging not far from the ground, Lorbeer's installation caused amazement. The crowd later discovered the trick when Lorbeer climbed down a ladder, leaving behind a replica of a human hand attached to the wall.

Lorbeer is known for his tricks, which feature him in impossible positions, such as this one, entitled Tarzan. His real arm was hidden inside a supporting structure in the shape of a real hand that was attached to the wall. (dpa)