Image source, Reuters

Rapper and hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has been detained pending trial after pleading not guilty to three federal charges.

He was charged in New York with racketeering, sex trafficking by force, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

The judge overseeing the case ordered Combs to be held without bail after hearing arguments from prosecutors that he would be tempted to flee the country.

Prosecutors accuse Combs, 54, of "creating a criminal enterprise" whose members - under his direction - engaged in sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, arson and bribery.

Combs denies the accusations and his defence team have pledged to fight the charges. If found guilty, he faces up to life in prison.

We're closing our live coverage, but you can follow further updates below:

• Sean 'Diddy' Combs pleads not guilty to sex trafficking charges

As we've just reported, Sean Combs has been denied bail and will remain in detention until his trial begins on a yet unknown date.

Combs, 54, appeared in court after being charged with racketeering, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

US Attorney Damian Williams outlined the details of the prosecution's case against the music mogul, which you can watch below:

More now from Marc Agnifilo, who tells reporters outside court that Combs is "not afraid of the charges".

"He's been looking forward to this day, and he's been looking forward to clearing his name," he says.

He said that at tomorrow's hearing, Combs's defence team will argue against the judge's decision to hold him without bond.

"So tomorrow we fight again. And we'll fight every day, until we don't have to fight anymore," he said.

He argued that Combs's accusers were lying.

"We'll make all these points again tomorrow and we'll make them as much as we can until we get him out."

Sean Combs's lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, has emerged from court in the last few minutes following his client being denied bail over sex trafficking charges.

Agnifilo says the defence team have already scheduled an appeal hearing for Wednesday.

"He's going to fight this. He's innocent. He came to New York to establish his innocence," he tells reporters.

"We believe in him wholeheartedly. He didn't do these things. There's no coercion and no crime."

Image source, Reuters

Sean "Diddy" Combs will stay in detention until his sex trafficking trial begins.

Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky issued the decision on a Manhattan court, after a lengthy debate between legal teams on whether Combs was a flight risk.

Prosecutors had argued that his immense wealth (nearly $1bn and the owner of a private jet), and the serious nature of the accusations meant he was "extremely dangerous to the community" and could attempt to avoid justice.

Combs's lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, told the court that the music mogul was in therapy and was a good candidate for home arrest, which the defence had sought on a $50m bond.

After that brief recess, Judge Robyn Tarnofsky is back in the courtroom to deliver her decision on whether Combs will be held in detention until his trial.

Judge Robyn Tarnofsky is now taking a short recess at the Manhattan court, after hearing arguments from prosecutors and the defence over whether Sean Combs should be held in pre-trail detention.

We'll bring you that decision when the hearing resumes, so stay with us.

Lawyers for Combs are laying out the case for allowing him to be released on bond until his trial, which is yet to be scheduled.

Marc Agnifilo told the court that the defence team acknowledges that his client has a history of drug use and unhealthy relationships.

Without mentioning specific details, he tells the judge that Combs is getting therapy for "things he needs treatment and therapy for".

He says that the therapy is a good argument for Combs being allowed to be placed under home arrest, rather than kept in federal detention.

The court is currently hearing arguments from Combs's lawyers and federal prosecutors before the judge decides whether the music mogul should be held in detention before his trial.

Prosecutors are listing the allegations mentioned in the indictment, claiming that they show a pattern of violent abuse and cover-ups for his alleged crimes.

They tell the judge that they had interviewed 12 witnesses who said they have either seen violence committed by Combs or physical injuries that they were left by him.

"The defendant Sean Combs physically and sexually abused victims for decades," the prosecutor says, according to Reuters.

"He is extremely dangerous to the community."

Judge Tarnofky began the hearing by reading the charges against Sean "Diddy" Combs, which include racketeering, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Combs, when asked how he pleaded to the charges, stands and says "not guilty".

His lawyers go on to request that he be freed on bond, pending trial, after paying a sum of $50m (£38m).

Combs entered the courtroom wearing a black T-shirt and grey athletic pants, according to US media who are present in the courtroom.

He is not wearing handcuffs, and appeared "stunned", CNN reported, as he took his seat between his lawyers.

Court is now under way in Manhattan, with Combs walking into the room for his first appearance.

Today's hearing is being overseen by Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky.

The judge could rule on whether Combs should stay in detention until his trial begins.

Image source, Reuters

Sean 'Diddy' Combs is expected to appear in court at 14.30 local time (19.30 BST). While we wait for that, let's take a look at what's happened so far today.

• He faces serious charges including racketeering, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution
• The indictment announced on Tuesday claims he orchestrated sex performances which he called "freak offs", and allegedly used violence, drugs and money to control victims
• A search of his properties uncovered more than 1,000 bottles of lubricant, firearms and ammo, as well as videos of the "freak offs", authorities say

• Prosecutors are pushing for Combs to be kept in detention as he awaits trial, saying he is a flight risk
• They claim that because he owns a plane, and much of the alleged abuse occurred behind closed doors, it would be inappropriate for the court to grant him house arrest

• In a statement before the charges were made public, Combs' lawyers called the prosecution “unjust”. Combs, they said, was an imperfect person but not a criminal
• If found guilty of the charges he could face life in prison

We have some more details about the alleged arson that was mentioned, but not elaborated on, in the indictment against Sean Combs.

United States attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams wrote a letter to the judge, outlining why he wants Combs to be detained until trial.

One specific detail in the letter mentions how Combs and his associates allegedly retaliated against individuals.

It speaks of an incident where Combs's co-conspirators allegedly set fire to convertible vehicle by slicing open the roof and dropping a Molotov cocktail inside.

More now on the note submitted to court by prosecutors, where they allege Combs' enormous wealth gives him the means to flee justice.

The rapper boasts a personal fortune of nearly $1bn (£760m).

The letter from prosecutors claims Combs maintains access to deep reserves of cash.

Prosecutors say his wealth is spread out over dozens of bank accounts - some personal and some corporate - and that he often travels with up to $1m in cash.

In addition to his private plane, which he has owned since 2019, Combs also has access to multiple vehicles at a variety of locations.

Continuing with details contained in the detention letter, prosecutors say that alleged abuse of women by Combs "long predates the conduct charged in the indictment".

They note that there are currently five women who have accused the music mogul publicly of "violent sexual assaults dating back to the 1990s".

They also say that the abuse and trafficking they allege often occurred behind closed doors, including in homes owned by Combs.

"This is precisely the kind of violence that even strict conditions such as home incarceration cannot prevent," they write.

Image source, Reuters

In a letter to the judge ahead of Combs's appearance in court later today, prosecutors have warned that the rapper represents a serious flight risk.

They say that "despite the conditions offered by his counsel" Combs holds "vast funds and resources" which could "facilitate his evasion of prosecution". The note observes that he frequently travels internationally aboard a private jet.

Prosecutors also claim that Diddy is highly likely to attempt to obstruct justice, noting that he has already "tried to obstruct the government’s investigation of this case".

There is no evidence that these efforts will stop, the note adds.

The charges Combs is facing carry long prison terms:

• The racketeering conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison
• The sex trafficking charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years
• The transportation for purposes of prostitution carries a maximum sentence of 10 years

After Combs was arrested, his lawyer said his client is innocent and that they were "disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution".

We've been hearing from prosecutors in New York who have been detailing the charges against Sean "Diddy" Combs following his arrest last night.

Here's what we learned:

• Damian Williams, the US Attorney, outlined the newly-released indictment for reporters saying in part that Combs forced women to engage in sexual intercourse with other men.
• He explained how Combs controlled sex performances, which the rapper called "freak offs"
• When Combs didn't get his way with his victims, he used violence including dragging women by their hair, Williams said
• The music mogul did not work alone and used his business and employees to get his way having people from security to personal assistants to help facilitate these alleged crimes, the news conference is told
• The prosecutor said that through their investigation, officials found more than 1,000 bottles of lubricant, firearms and ammunition
• Williams did not take further charges off the table when speaking to reporters but didn't offer specific details
• Prosecutors said they are seeking pre-trial detention for Combs and noted he would be in court later today

Image source, Reuters

Sean "Diddy" Combs is currently in custody, Williams goes on to say, adding that the rapper will appear in court "later today".

That brings a close to the news conference from the court in Manhattan, but stay with us as we bring you more updates and analysis.