US rapper Freddie Gibbs appeals extradition from France

US rapper Freddie Gibbs has lodged an appeal against his extradition from France to Austria where he is accused of rape, his lawyer said Monday.

The rapper, 34, from Gary, Indiana, was arrested on June 2 shortly before a planned concert in the southwestern French city of Toulouse, one of a string of European tour dates. 

Gibbs, whose real name is Fredrick Tipton, was the subject of a European arrest warrant issued on May 31 for an alleged rape in Austria in 2015.

According to Austrian media, citing prosecution sources, Gibbs is accused of drugging two women who came backstage after a concert in Vienna in July, before taking them back to a hotel where they were allegedly raped by the rapper and one of his security agents.

Gibbs, who categorically denies the rape allegations, was released on 50,000-euro ($56,000) bail last week.

A court ordered his extradition last Thursday.

"Mr Gibbs will continue to respect the conditions of his freedom while categorically denying the charges against him which emerged one year after the supposed acts," his lawyer Michael Malka said in a statement.

The singer was touring Europe to promote his new album "Shadow of a Doubt" when he was arrested, and had to cancel shows in the French cities of Marseille and Strasbourg as well as in Porto, Portugal, plus the next stage of his tour in Canada.