Kanye West News

Kanye West's love may not be the only thing that needs to be put on lockdown—his fists might also want to consider it.

The rapper was arrested on suspicion of assault in Newcastle, England, early this morning, after allegedly getting into a physical altercation with a paparazzo.

Northumbria Police have confirmed to E! News that a 31-year-old man was arrested and released without charge and that no further action will be taken. West was not identified by name—per U.K. police policy, arrestees aren't publicly named unless formally charged.

Rather uncharacteristically, West has yet to publicly comment or air any grievances on his blog. Likewise, Mercury Records, West's U.K. label, has announced it won't be issuing a statement on the matter.

This makes the second time this year West managed to escape charges for an alleged shutterbug smackdown, having been involved in a similar melee at Los Angeles International Airport in September.

Friday's incident purportedly went down around 2 a.m., not long after the rapper finished performing at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena.

According to British press reports, the "Love Lockdown" singer got embroiled in a skirmish with photographer Terry Blackburn after leaving Newcastle's Tup Tup nightclub.

Skipping over the events leading up to the encounter, Blackburn claims West, who was leaving the club with four lady friends, ran at him, pushed his camera back into his face and shouted, "Get the f--king camera off!"

Blackburn showed off the cuts and bruising he claims to have suffered in the incident, and West was arrested for his part in the incident a couple hours later, at his hotel.

According to Blackburn's photo agency, West initially told police that he would issue a written apology to the paparazzo only to later rescind the promise—presumably after conferring with lawyers—citing the prospect of future litigation.

West is due to perform again tonight as part of the U.K. leg of his Glow in the Dark world tour, this time in Sheffield.

(Originally published Nov. 14, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. PT)

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