Embattled hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been arrested in New York City on unspecified federal charges, federal authorities told the BBC’s US partner CBS.
The arrest in Manhattan follows raids on two of his properties in Los Angeles and Miami in March as part of an “ongoing investigation” into sex trafficking by authorities.
Mr Combs’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said they were “disappointed” by the arrest and his client was an “innocent man”.
The musician has faced a series of allegations from sexual assault to abuse, including by his ex-partner Casandra “Cassie” Ventura. He has denied all the claims against him.
His arrest was made in connection with an ongoing investigation by US homeland security officials, multiple law enforcement sources told CBS.
US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams confirmed the arrest in a statement on Monday night.
“Earlier this evening, federal agents arrested Sean Combs, based on a sealed indictment filed by the SDNY,” the prosecutor said.
He said the office plans to unseal the indictment on Tuesday morning and we “will have more to say at that time”.
Combs faces a number of civil lawsuits, including allegations that he raped an underage girl and tried to “groom” a producer and force him to have sex with another man.
His attorney said on Monday night that Mr Combs was looking forward to “clearing his name in court”.
“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution,” Mr Agnifilo said in a written statement to the BBC. [BBC news]