Rapper Snoop Dogg arrested after Heathrow fracas

Rapper Snoop Dogg has been arrested after a disturbance at Heathrow airport.

The US star was detained by police when a row broke out after his 30-strong entourage was refused entry to the British Airways first-class lounge at the airport's Terminal 1.

His party was then alleged to have moved to a duty-free shop where it was said they threw bottles of whisky to the floor and argued with staff.

Police were called to the airport and were escorting the group away from the scene when a further disturbance broke out, Scotland Yard said.

Seven officers received minor injuries - mainly cuts and bruises - and one suffered a fracture to the hand.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: "Police were called at 6pm last night to reports of a disturbance involving 30 people in a business lounge at Terminal 1.

"The party was told that they would not be permitted to board their flight and officers then attempted to direct the group to baggage reclaim.

"A number of the group became abusive and pushed officers."

Six men aged in their 30s, including Snoop, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, 34, were arrested on charges of violent disorder and affray.

The spokesman added: "The men, who are all US citizens, are in custody at two West London police stations."

Snoop and his group were due to board a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, before the row broke out.

The superstar rapper grew up on the gang-infested streets of Long Beach, California and ended up on the wrong side of the law.

In 1993 he was tried and acquitted for murder - the same year he found fame with debut album Doggystyle.

Since then he has become a movie star, appearing in the Starsky and Hutch remake, and has even been invited to speak at the Oxford Union.