Stockholm (AFP)
The Swedish prosecutor's office on Thursday ordered the detention of US rapper ASAP Rocky on suspicion of assault and battery after a fight on the streets of Stockholm last weekend.
The incident took place on Sunday and was partly filmed in a video broadcast by the TMZ celebrity media.
In the video, the 30-year-old artist, who is visiting the Swedish capital for a concert as part of his European tour, is filmed throwing a young man to the ground before thrashing him several times.
The rapper responded Tuesday by posting several videos of the altercation on his Instagram account. In these videos, ASAP Rocky repeatedly asks two young men to move away.
Suspected of assault, ASAP Rocky - whose real name is Rakim Mayers - has since been arrested and taken into custody along with three other people - two of whom are suspected of the same facts.
On Thursday, the Swedish prosecutor demanded the detention of three of the four people involved in the case - including the artist -, citing "a risk of flight" that could compromise the investigation.
The fourth person - a bodyguard - was released Wednesday evening.
"The custody hearing will probably take place tomorrow Friday," said the prosecutor in a statement.
Henrik Olsson Lilja, ASAP Rocky's Swedish lawyer, told AFP that his client denied the charges against him, without giving further details.
"It could jeopardize the whole tour if he is incarcerated," he added.
The rapper was expected Wednesday night in Norway and Poland this Thursday night. It should also happen in Dublin and London next weekend.
Originally from New York, ASAP Rocky became known to the public in 2011 with the release of a compilation entitled "Live Love ASAP". In 2013, he goes on with his first album "Long Live ASAP".
? 2019 AFP