Arrests over Travolta extortion plot

Two people have been arrested in the Bahamas over an alleged plot to extort money from the actor John Travolta, whose son Jett collapsed and died while on holiday in the islands.

Police said Tarino Lightbourne, an ambulance driver quoted in newspapers talking about efforts to revive the 16-year-old, was detained yesterday. Senator Pleasant Bridgewater was held on Thursday.

Jett died of a seizure on 2 January at the family's holiday home on Grand Bahama island. Authorities did not give any details of the alleged plot but reports suggested it centred on a request for "millions of dollars" to stop the release of a photograph taken of Jett about the time he died.

Lawyers for the Travolta family said: "Regrettably, in a time of such terrible grief, there are often a few individuals who attempt to make false claims in hopes of making millions of dollars. We will never let that happen."

Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police, Marvin Dames, said Lightbourne was detained after police issued an alert that he was wanted for attempted extortion and was "considered dangerous".

Jett's parents, both Scientologists, said Jett had Kawasaki Disease, which causes inflammation of the arteries. It is rarely fatal and usually does not affect children aged over eight. They also believed chemicals in commercial cleaning fluids had affected him.

However it was also claimed that Jett exhibited signs of autism, a condition which the Church of Scientology does not recognise.