French singer Patrick Bruel performs on stage on December 20, 2019 at the Cite des Congres in valenciennes, northern France. © François Lo Presti, AFP

French star Patrick Bruel placed in police custody over rape, sex assault allegations

· France 24

⁠French singer ​and actor Patrick Bruel has been ​placed in police custody in connection with an investigation into sexual assault ​allegations, ‌the Nanterre prosecution office ⁠said on Monday.

Bruel, one of France's ‌best-selling recording artists, has publicly denied wrongdoing. ⁠He faces accusations by several women of rape, attempted rape, ​sexual assault and harassment, stretching ‌from 1997 to 2012 in France and Belgium, the prosecution office ‌said.

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© France 24

"Patrick Bruel is being questioned in ​relation to all these incidents, which concern at this point 13 victims," ​the prosecution office said.

Authorities are ​able to keep ​Bruel in custody for 24 hours, renewable once.

"I ​have never forced a woman. I have never drugged, manipulated or looked for anyone to submit," ⁠Bruel wrote in a social media post ⁠last ​month.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)