The 54-year-old was arrested at the Park Hyatt hotel in New York, a representative said, although it is unclear precisely on what charges.

SDNY attorney Damian Williams said it was "based on a sealed indictment" and is expecting to have more to say when the document is unsealed.

Combs' lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said he was "disappointed" with the decision to "pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr Combs by the US Attorney's Office".

He added: "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."

His arrest comes amid a wave of lawsuits filed against him alleging sexual assault and an ongoing federal investigation.

A statement from the lawyers representing some of those who have made accusations against Combs said the "long awaited arrest is the first step for our clients receiving justice".

"The evidence is very clear and it was only a matter of time," the statement read. "This is an important step towards justice for all of Mr Combs' victims including my clients. Justice will prevail."

The federal investigation against the rapper 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 SDNY.

R&B singer Cassie - whose real name is Cassandra Ventura - was the first to sue the rapper in 2023 for alleged years of abuse, including beatings and rape.

The suit was settled, but Combs later apologised for his behaviour after a video appearing to show him punching and kicking Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway on 5 March 2016 was obtained by CNN.

Cassie's lawsuit was followed by at least a half-dozen others, including two women who accused Combs of sexual assault and a music producer who said he allegedly coerced him to solicit prostitutes and pressured him to have sex with them.

Combs and his lawyers have always denied nearly all of the allegations.

The rapper made his name - then known as Puff Daddy - during the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop battles of the 1990s as the partner and producer of the Notorious B.I.G., who was shot and killed in 1997.

He is known as one of the most influential producers and executives in hip-hop.