Police unravel stranger than fiction murder plot against Justin Bieber

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (REUTERS) -  Police in New Mexico say singer Justin Bieber was the target of a bizarre murder plot that officers foiled after arresting two fugitives who planned to kill the singer and his bodyguard.

According to various media reports, the men behind the plot were convicted murder Dana Martin, who's serving two life sentences at a New Mexico prison and fellow inmate Mark Staake.

Investigators said the murder conspiracy called for Staake to carry out the plan upon his release from jail.

Reports go on to say that Staake had enlisted the help of Tanner Ruane to carry out the murder, which was to have taken place in November at New York City's Madison Square Garden during a Bieber concert.

Investigators say that for some reason Martin had a change of heart and contacted police about their plans. Martin is said to have been infatuated with Bieber, and even had a tattoo of the pop star.

Police subsequently arrested Staake in Vermont and Ruane was later apprehended in upstate New York. Police said at the time of the arrest Ruane was carrying a number of tools, including pruning shears.