Russian arrested for threats against Hilary Duff

LOS ANGELES, Nov 7 (Reuters) A Russian teenager who reportedly wanted to kill Hollywood teen idol Hilary Duff has been arrested, Los Angeles police said.

Maksim Myaskovskiy, 18, was booked on Friday on suspicion of stalking and making criminal threats, said Sgt Steve Tobias of the Manhattan Beach Police Dept. He is scheduled to be arraigned oday, Tobias said.

According to the celebrity Web site TMZ.com, Myaskovskiy, a Russian emigre, was arrested at a hotel after he told a private investigator that he planned to kill Duff, 19, at an event she was scheduled to attend on Sunday.

TMZ reported that Duff and her boyfriend, rock star Joel Madden, have sought a restraining order against Myaskovskiy.

According to legal papers filed by Duff, Myaskovskiy came to the United States ''for the sole purpose of meeting and becoming romantically involved with Ms Duff,'' TMZ reported. A spokesperson for Duff was not immediately available.

Duff has appeared in such movies as the ''Cheaper By the Dozen'' comedies and ''Material Girls.'' She has also topped the US pop album charts.

REUTERS PB ND1442