Pop star Michael Jackson was handcuffed and taken into police custody in Santa Barbara, California, yesterday to face charges of child molestation, writes Conor O'Clery, North America Editor.
The singer was apprehended after arriving at Santa Barbara airport from Las Vegas in a private jet and taken to Santa Barbara police headquarters.
Jackson (45) was released shortly afterwards on bail of $3 million after surrendering his passport. His lawyer, Mr Mark Geragos, told reporters that his client had come back to Santa Barbara "specifically to confront the charges head on".
He said Jackson was greatly outraged about what he considered was a "big lie". The charges were categorically untrue and "he looks forward to getting into a courtroom as opposed to any other forum and confronting these charges head on".
Jackson's brother, Jermaine, reacted to the handcuffing by furiously accusing the Santa Barbara authorities of "a modern-day lynching" of someone who just loved children. "I am sick and f...ing tired at these people saying such things," he said on CNN before abruptly terminating the interview.
All US television news channels dropped their coverage of President Bush's London visit and the terrorist attacks in Turkey to focus exclusively on Jackson's movements.
When his jet arrived from Las Vegas at 11.45 a.m. local time, Santa Barbara police arrested the "King of Pop" on charges of "lewd and lascivious behaviour" with a child under 14.
Jackson was taken into the police centre with his hands cuffed behind his back - normal procedure in arrests in California. He lifted his hands up to show the media how he was being treated.
The charges stem from allegations believed made by a 12-year- old boy who stayed over at Jackson's mansion, Neverland.