LOS ANGELES — Joss Stone was apparently the target of
a robbery and murder plot involving swords and a body bag for which
police said Wednesday two men had been arrested and detained in
southwest England, near the soul and R&B singer’s country home.
“I’d like to thank everyone for their concern but I’m
absolutely fine and getting on with life as normal while the police
continue with their inquiries,” the singer, 24, said in a statement,
though she had not been named specifically by police.
Devon and Cornwall police arrested the men, ages 30
and 33, in the town of Cullompton, county of Devon, on Monday morning
after being alerted by locals who were suspicious of their activities.
The men were allegedly in possession of swords, rope
and a body bag, plus maps and aerial photographs of the singer’s home,
according to the Sun newspaper, which said there was no sign of Stone
around her home in the Cullompton area on Tuesday.
The men were initially held for possessing an
offensive weapon and being equipped for burglary and theft, but “as a
result of enquiries the two men are now being detained for the further
offences of conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to murder,” police said.
The investigation is continuing.
Stone, who has sold 11 million albums worldwide, won a
BBC talent contest at 13 and had her first hit at 16. She’s also
friends with Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.
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