A British rapper who posed with military-style assault rifles during a trip to Rio de Janeiro is being investigated by Brazilian police.

Images emerged online showing rising star Central Cee, 24, during a tour of the city’s crime-riddled favelas while he was recording with a local singer.

One image reportedly shows the rapper – real name Oakley Neil H. T. Caesar-Su from Shepherd’s Bush, west London – cradling a blue and black camo assault rifle.

A second image shows Central Cee posing with what seems to be another deadly assault rifle.

Flanking him are two other men, both holding what appear to be terrifying military firearms.

Behind them is a night street scene with shops lit up and traffic passing by.

Local media reports that the pictures were taken in Vila do Joao, in Complexo da Mare in the North Zone of Rio, a notorious gang neighbourhood.

Now Rio’s Policia Civil are reportedly investigating where the guns came from and to see if they had been used in any killings or robberies.

Marcus Amim, chief delegate of the Delegation for the Repression of Narcotics (DRE-RJ), said that the investigation is in its initial phase and it is currently impossible for them to confirm if the guns are real.

But he added: “We are treating them as being real due to the location and the large number of weapons of that type that can be found there, as well as the people who are with him in the images.”

Local media reported that charges pertaining to the illegal possession of restricted firearms could be brought against Central Cee if the weapons turn out to be real.

The investigation is ongoing and it is not clear if Central Cee is still in Brazil after recording with local star L7ennon.

Central Cee gained notoriety in 2020 with his songs Day in the Life and Loading.

Earlier this year he was pipped at the post by Harry Styles for the Artist of the Year prize at the Brit Awards.