Russell Brand's guards in alleged attack ahead of marriage

PHOTOGRAPHERS have claimed Russell Brand looked on as his bodyguards attacked them in India - just hours before the comedian is due to wed.

The pressmen claimed the guards pounced as they followed Mr Brand and his party through a well-known safari park.

And they said they left them stranded in the park - home to tigers, leopards and hyenas - unable to start the engine of their jeep.

Mr Brand is due to marry singer Katy Perry, 25, today in a ceremony close to the Ranthambhore National Park, 80 miles from Jaipur in Rajasthan.

The four photographers - from Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse and The Hindustan Times - were taking pictures of Mr Brand at the time.

They claimed they were following about 100 metres behind two jeeps carrying Mr Brand and others.

Photographer Mustafa Quraishi said one of the two guards - both of whom he said had British accents - approached their vehicle punched the driver in the face and grabbed the keys.

Mr Quraishi said he jumped out of the jeep to retrieve the keys, but the bodyguard attacked him, punching him repeatedly, breaking his glasses, smashing and taking his camera flash and leaving him with a cut arm.

Two of the other photographers came to his aid, Mr Quraishi said, but the other guard began hitting them, leaving one with a head wound.

They claimed Mr Brand watched the incident.

Their alleged attackers were then said to have driven away leaving them stranded, although park rangers later recovered the keys from the guards' driver.

Private security has been stationed at the hotels where guests and the couple are staying.

Mr Brand, 35, was arrested at a Los Angeles airport in September for allegedly assaulting a photographer, and he was released on $20,000 (13,000) bail. The case is still pending.