Sean 'Diddy' Combs arrested amid sex trafficking allegations

Sean "Diddy" Combs, the rap mogul facing several accusations of sexual assault and sex trafficking, was arrested late Monday by federal agents in Manhattan.

The arrest was confirmed by the US Federal Court, according to a statement from the Southern District of New York.

Damian Williams, the attorney for the district, said the arrest was based on a sealed indictment filed by his office.

“We expect to unseal the indictment in the morning and will provide more details then,” he added, without disclosing the nature of the charges.

Combs' lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, told CNN that the rapper had voluntarily moved to New York in anticipation of the charges.

Agnifilo expressed disappointment at the decision to pursue what he described as an "unjust prosecution" of Combs.

“Diddy is not perfect, but he is not a criminal,” Agnifilo said.

He added that Combs had fully cooperated with the investigation and urged the public to withhold judgment until the facts were revealed.

“These are the actions of an innocent man with nothing to hide,” he said.

Combs has been the target of multiple civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct. The lawsuits describe him as a violent sexual predator who allegedly used drugs and alcohol to control his victims.

In March, federal agents raided Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles. The raids, part of a high-profile operation, signalled a growing federal investigation against the music industry icon, who had recently attempted to rebrand himself as "Brother Love."

One of the most notable lawsuits was filed in 2023 by R&B singer Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura. She accused Combs of years of abuse, including physical violence and rape.

Although the case was settled, Combs later apologised after a video surfaced showing him allegedly assaulting Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.

Several other lawsuits followed, including claims from two women accusing Combs of sexual assault and a music producer who alleged Combs coerced him into soliciting prostitutes.

Further details about the charges Combs faces are expected once the indictment is unsealed.