Justin Bieber 'questioned by police in Rome after Argentina issues arrest warrant relating to 2013 assault claim'
Pop star Justin Bieber has reportedly been quizzed by police in Rome in connection with Argentina's request for him to be arrested over the alleged assault of a photographer, Italian media reported Wednesday.
Two of the country's most respected dailies, La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera, said the Canadian heart throb was under interrogation at his five-star hotel, but had not been arrested.
Police denied the star had been arrested but did not comment on the reports of him being questioned.
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Wanted: Justin Bieber was reportedly questioned by police in Italy on Wednesday in relation to a warrant issued for his arrest in Argentina earlier this month
What is going on? Two of the country's most respected dailies, La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera, said the Canadian heart throb was under interrogation at his five-star hotel, but had not been arrested
New pictures show police outside the Hilton hotel in Rome, where Bieber is staying.
While it has been claimed they were there to question him, TMZ reports they were consulting with his security on crowd control.
However, TMZ added he is on an Interpol list because of the outstanding warrant in Argentina.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Bieber for comment.
Bieber, 21, arrived in Rome earlier this week to film a cameo role in the film Zoolander 2, which is being shot in the Italian capital.
According to the reports he was being quizzed in relation to an April 8 request from an Argentinian judge for Interpol to issue a Red Notice for the pop star's arrest.
Looking for someone? A number of police were spotted outside Bieber's hotel in Rome on Wednesday
International relations: According to the reports he was being quizzed in relation to an April 8 request from an Argentinian judge for Interpol to issue a Red Notice for the pop star's arrest
Bieber ignored a November court order to appear before the judge in the case, which dates to a November 2013 stop in Buenos Aires on his Believe tour.
Photographer Diego Pesoa accuses Bieber of instructing a bodyguard to forcefully seize his camera and cellphone outside a nightclub in the upscale Palermo neighbourhood.
Under Argentine law, he would face from one month to six years in prison if convicted on a charge of causing injuries.
Before it all kicked off: Justin enjoyed a dinner with friends in Rome on Tuesday night
Busy man: The pop star flew to Italy to film a cameo in comedy sequel Zoolander 2
Legal issues: Police denied the star had been arrested but did not comment on the reports of him being questioned
Ignored: Bieber ignored a November court order to appear before the judge in the case, which dates to a November 2013 stop in Buenos Aires on his Believe tour
Interpol, the international police body, does not issue arrest warrants itself, but can send out a Red Notice informing its 190 member states that a suspect is wanted in a particular country.
In comments to local station Telefe Noticias in Argentina after the warrant was issued, Pesoa's lawyer implied that the warrant would force Bieber to return to the South American country.
'Now we just need to wait for the police to find him and bring him' to Argentina, said lawyer Matias Morla. 'For us, this is a triumph against all those who said this case was a bluff and that we didn't have anything.'
Arrival: Justin arrived in Rome on Tuesday with an entourage including a bodyguard
Drama: Photographer Diego Pesoa accuses Bieber of instructing a bodyguard to forcefully seize his camera and cellphone outside a nightclub in the upscale Palermo neighbourhood
Bieber once enjoyed a squeaky clean image but has more recently had frequent run-ins with the law, including one in Canada in which he allegedly assaulted a limousine driver.
Last year, he pleaded guilty to lesser charges after taking part in an illegal drag race on a Miami street.
He was sentenced to two years' probation last year for throwing eggs at the home of a neighbour in California.
The 2013 tour stop, Bieber's only visit to Argentina, was peppered with scandals. He was thrown out of a hotel, and cut one show short after 45 minutes because of a stomach ache, angering some fans.
What to expect: Under Argentine law, he would face from one month to six years in prison if convicted on a charge of causing injuries
Scandal: The 2013 tour stop, Bieber's only visit to Argentina, was peppered with scandals. He was thrown out of a hotel, and cut one show short after 45 minutes because of a stomach ache, angering some fans
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