P Diddy: 'Gut-wrenching' video appears to show Sean Combs ...

"Gut-wrenching" CCTV footage which appears to show Sean "Diddy" Combs attacking singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel "has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behaviour" of the rapper, her lawyer has said.

Warning: This story includes images readers may find distressing

The 54-year-old, whose homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by Homeland Security Investigations agents in March, has faced a series of public allegations of physical and sexual violence.

Footage obtained by CNN appears to show Combs -also known as P Diddy and Puff Daddy - wearing only a white towel as he punches and kicks Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway on 5 March 2016.

The R&B singer, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, was his protege and girlfriend at the time.

The footage also shows Combs shoving and dragging her across the floor, as well as throwing a vase in her direction.

Read more: What is Sean Combs accused of and what has he said?

It closely resembles the description of an incident at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles described in a lawsuit filed by Cassie in November that alleged years of sexual abuse and other violence from Combs.

The case was settled the day after it was filed.

Several more lawsuits were filed in the following months, along with a federal criminal sex-trafficking investigation that led authorities to raid Combs' mansions in Los Angeles and Miami.

Representatives for Combs did not immediately comment on the video. He has previously denied the allegations in the lawsuits and his lawyers have said he denies any wrongdoing.

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Cassie's lawyer said: "The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behaviour of Mr Combs.

"Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light."

According to NBC News, Sky News' US partner, if Cassie were to make a complaint the LAPD could investigate, but charges would likely be declined by the district attorney because California law has a one-year statute of limitations for assault and the alleged incident happened nearly eight years ago.

The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office has since confirmed it would be unable to bring charges "as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted".

CNN did not say how it obtained the video, but noted it verified the location it was shot by comparing the footage to publicly available images of the InterContinental Hotel.