A book signing by Leona Lewis ended in violence yesterday, when an "unprovoked attacker" reportedly punched the singer. Lewis was posing for photographs and signing copies of her new memoir, Dreams, at a London bookstore.

Metropolitan police were called to Waterstone's Piccadilly at 5pm yesterday, arresting a 29-year-old man on suspicion of assault. The incident took place about 90 minutes into Lewis's three-hour signing, when bystanders say a man stepped forward from the line to get the X-Factor winner's autograph, and then, "as she looked up", struck her in the face.

"[Lewis] was running out with her hand over her eye, and I just saw a man on the floor," an observer told the BBC. "Suddenly, the security all jumped on him and they were trying to pull him out and he was just laughing. He thought it was funny."

Lewis was rushed from the store with boyfriend Lou Al-Chamaa. A spokesperson for the singer said she had sought medical attention but was unharmed – just "understandably badly shaken". Lewis apologised "to the fans she was unable to meet and complete signings".

Waterstone's said this was "the first time anything of this nature [had] happened" at a book signing and that they would "support the police in their enquiries". A spokesperson said: "We would like to thank Leona for her professionalism and we are extremely sad that this event was ruined for her, and her fans, many of whom queued from the early hours of the morning to meet her."

Lewis cancelled her appearance on Wednesday night's edition of The One Show, but no further events have been pulled. Posting on Twitter, former Sugababe Keisha Buchanan said that she had heard from Lewis. "She's OK," Buchanan wrote. "Will send her your love."

SOURCE: The Guardian Online.

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