Sean "Diddy" Combs arrested in New York amid sex trafficking investigation

Rapper turned music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has been arrested, according to the US attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY).

In a statement, Damian Williams said: "Earlier this evening, federal agents arrested Sean Combs, based on a sealed indictment filed by the SDNY. We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time."

Diddy's attorney, Marc Agnifilo, issued a statement saying: "We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr Combs by the US Attorney's Office.

"Diddy is an imperfect person but Is not criminal. To his credit Mr Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts.

"These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court," Agnifilo said.

It was not immediately clear on what charges he was arrested, but it comes amid a wave of lawsuits filed against him alleging sexual assault and an ongoing federal investigation.

The federal investigation was made public in March when agents executed search warrants at his properties in Los Angeles and Miami.

Investigators interviewed several people in relation to allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault and the solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms.

The warrant to search Combs' properties came from the Southern District of New York.