Bruised Rihanna photo leaked to celebrity website

A PHOTOGRAPH that appears to be pop star Rihanna’s face with bruises, scratches and swelling from an attack allegedly at the hands of boyfriend Chris Brown has been posted by the celebrity website TMZ.

The close-up image shows a welt above each of the woman’s eyebrows, marks on her cheek and around her lips, and general swelling. TMZ did not say how it obtained the photo, when it was taken or by whom.

Hours after the photo was posted, the Los Angeles Police Department launched an internal investigation and asked for the public’s help in finding the person who leaked it. A police news release said the image “has the appearance” of one taken during a domestic violence investigation, and classified its release as a case of serious misconduct that could result in termination.