Leona Lewis has spoken of her "horrible shock" after an alleged¹ assault at a book signing in London on Wednesday.

Leona Lewis对于本周三在伦敦的新书签售会上遭到袭击表示“可怕的震惊”。

In a statement she said it had left her "extremely hurt and upset" and also thanked fans for their support, saying it had been "truly overwhelming".

Police have arrested a man over the incident on Wednesday at Waterstone's bookstore in Piccadilly, London.

Lewis's spokesman said she had been signing autographs（亲笔签名） for 90 minutes when "a guy came up and punched her."

Lewis was publicising her forthcoming autobiography²（自传）, Dreams, at the event.

One fan at the scene told the BBC: "My brother saw the whole incident. He [the attacker] walked up there with the book, she signed it and, as she looked up, he just punched her.

"He [my brother] actually heard the impact."

Another eyewitness³ added: "She was running out with her hand over her eye and I just saw a man on the floor.

"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's spokesman added: "The police were called immediately and medical attention has been sought.

"Leona's understandably badly shaken and apologises to the fans she was unable to meet and complete signings for."

'Professionalism'

Waterstone's said it took security at book signings "extremely seriously" and this was the first incident of its kind it had encountered.

"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," it added.

Fellow X Factor winner Alexandra Burke told BBC Breakfast she had been in touch to offer her support to Lewis.

"I think it's awful and I don't know why someone would do this unprovoked（无缘无故的）," she said.

"But when things like that happen, it can knock your confidence. I hope that doesn't happen to Leona."

Lewis's second album, Echo, is scheduled for release in November.

The three-time Grammy Award nominee⁴, released her debut⁵ single A Moment Like This, shortly after winning the ITV1 show.

She is due to play a gig in her native Hackney in east London on 2 November.