Lana Del Rey 'kidnap plot' foiled after man with knife arrested outside concert
Police say they have arrested a man who posed a “credible threat” to Lana Del Rey as he was allegedly plotting to kidnap to the US singer.
The Orlando Police Department (OPD) in Florida said they had detained Michael Hunt at the Amway Centre in the city where the 32-year-old was performing on Friday night.
He was in possession of a knife and is reported to have made “cryptic and threatening” posts on social media.
On a Facebook page which appeared to belong to Hunt, posts frequently featured images of the singer - with one on 30 January saying: “I want to see my queen on Friday and from that day forward our decisions will be as one”.
In another post he said: “I’m giving up everything to follow my dream”, indicating he was selling all his possessions and saying goodbye to friends.
In one post, when asked where he was going, he said “I'm leaving I've got to go spend time with children in villages me and Lana have to change things all over the world”.
In a statement shared on Twitter, the OPD said it "received a tip about a possible kidnapping threat" to the singer, whose real name is Elizabeth Woolridge Grant.
OPD Media release on arrest of Michael Hunt, 43, who stalked, made threats against singer Lana Del Rey.
Working off a tip,OPD Officers were able to stop Hunt, who was armed with a knife, before he could get to the Amway Center. pic.twitter.com/mOsfGEwJIO— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) February 4, 2018
The statement said: "The threats were reportedly made by Michael Hunt, 43, of Riverview, Florida. OPD Detectives considered the information a credible threat, and took investigative measures to locate Hunt.
"OPD officers came into contact with Hunt at Hughey Avenue and Central Boulevard on Friday evening, one block from the Amway Center.
"When he was taken into custody, Hunt was in possession of tickets to the Lana Del Rey performance and a knife.
"At no time was he able to make contact with Ms Grant."
Police say Hunt is currently being held at the local jail and facing charges of aggravated stalking with a credible threat and attempted kidnapping with a weapon.
The OPD statement said that, without the tip-off, "authorities might have been unaware" of the threat posed.
The Young And Beautiful singer, 32, thanked fans on Twitter after her performance in Orlando.
Along with a video clip from the show, she wrote: "Thank you so much for coming out and making those shows totally crazy and keeping the energy high."
She added that she was "feeling super lucky after a couple of days of amazing shows" and that she was "grateful".
She has so far not commented publicly on the incident.
Additionally reporting by agencies
