Roissy homeless man who inspired Spielberg dies at airport

Mehran Karimi Nasseri, an Iranian political refugee who lived for more than eighteen years at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport and inspired director Steven Spielberg for his film

died there on Saturday, it was reported. learned from an airport source.

He died a natural death shortly before noon Saturday at Terminal 2F.

After spending the money received for the film, he had returned to the airport for a few weeks, added the same source.

Several thousand euros were found on him.

Born in 1945 in Masjed Soleiman, in the Iranian province of Khuzestan, Mehran Karimi Nasseri, known as "Sir Alfred", had taken up residence in Roissy, north of Paris, in November 1988, after a long journey - in search of of his mother - who had taken him to London, Berlin or even Amsterdam.

Each time, he had been expelled by the authorities, for lack of being able to present papers.

In 1999, he obtained refugee status in France and a residence permit.

At Roissy, he had become familiar with the airport staff and an emblematic figure, being the subject of numerous television and radio reports, French and foreign, before the cinematographic consecration.

In 2004, Tom Hanks interpreted his role in

directed by Steven Spielberg.

After the film, he would have lived in a hostel in Paris.

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• Tom Hanks

• Steven Spielberg

• Refugees

• Iran