R&B singer Chris Brown was arrested on Friday in Malibu, California, on a warrant issued for a probation violation related to his 2009 assault of then-girlfriend Rihanna, the Los Angeles County Sheriff said.

Singer Chris Brown has been arrested for a probation violation related to a 2009 case for "assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threats".

Brown, 24, who is pictured here in a hearing in December last year, is being held without bail in Los Angeles after being taken into custody, according to LA County deputy sheriff Amber Smith.

She said: "Los Angeles County sheriffs from the Malibu, Lost Hills station arrested Chris Brown at a location that he was staying at in the city of Malibu fora warrant that was issued for a probation violation.