See Shocking Rihanna Photo

A picture of a bruised and battered Rihanna leaks to a gossip website

10:03, Friday, 20 February 2009

This sickening photo - purporting to be of Rihanna after the alleged attack by Chris Brown - has hit the internet.

It shows the Umbrella star with bumps and bruises to her face and head and a cut and swollen lip.

Reports say it was taken just after the alleged assault. The singer was involved in an incident with ex-boyfriend Brown in the early hours of Sunday February 8.

He was arrested shortly after and has so far only been charged with making criminal threats and released on $50,000 bail.

LA police have released a statement since the photo leaked. They said the picture has the appearance" of one taken for a domestic violence investigation.

They have launched an investigation into how the photo got into the public domain and said that it is a case of "serious misconduct."