A New York Judge has claimed he was only joking when he called an Arab American woman a terrorist he claimed today.

Apparently the remarks: “I bet you cheered when the planes hit the towers, were there bombs in your car you’d parked illegally? Didn’t they go off, you terrorist financing scumbag.” Were simply intended as a light hearted remark and he had not intended to cause offence.

The woman fainted in court and had to be carried off on a stretcher. During this time the judge was reported to have said “Don’t move her. She might be a suicide bomber!” but apparently this too was merely a joke.

“I say lots of things. People really shouldn’t take me too seriously. Once, when a man was found guilty for exceeding the speed limit by a 5mph, I jokingly sentenced him to the electric chair. It wasn’t until I saw on TV last month after he’d spent 6 weeks on Death Row that I realised I’d been taking seriously.

“That reminds me, I think he’s due soon. I’d better call them and explain it was all a big misunderstanding.”