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American R&B singer Chris Brown, the former boyfriend of superstar Rihanna, was arrested on Thursday in the UK on suspicion of a serious 2023 assault at a London nightclub, reports said.

Police detained Brown, 36, in the early hours of Thursday at a hotel in the northwestern city of Manchester, The Daily Telegraph and The Sun reported. London’s Metropolitan Police said a 36-year-old man was in custody on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, without naming him.

Officers arrested the Grammy winner at Manchester’s five-star Lowry Hotel for having allegedly attacked music producer Abe Diaw with a bottle at Tape nightclub in London’s exclusive Mayfair district in February 2023, The Sun daily reported.

The star reportedly flew into Manchester airport by private jet on Wednesday afternoon.

He is due to perform a number of dates in Britain next month.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told AFP: “A 36-year-old man was arrested at a hotel in Manchester shortly after 2am (0100 GMT) on Thursday, May 15 on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

“He has been taken into custody where he remains.” Brown rose to fame at a young age with his rich R&B voice and later rap, but his reputation was later tarnished by allegations of domestic violence and other abuse.

He was convicted of having beaten Rihanna, then his girlfriend, before the 2009 Grammy Awards, forcing the pop star to miss the annual gala.