LONDON, England (AP) — A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of posting malicious Twitter messages directed at British Olympic diver Tom Daley, UK police said today.

Daley's father died of brain cancer a year ago and the 18-year-old Olympian had hoped to win a medal "for myself and my dad." But he finished fourth yesterday, out of medal contention, in the 10-metre synchronised platform competition with teammate Pete Waterfield.

Afterward, Daley tweeted a message complaining about some of the tweets sent to him by "idiots."

He cited one tweet that read: "You let your dad down I hope you know that."

He said the nasty tweet about his father came in after he had been "giving it my all" in the bid for a medal.

Dorset Police said early today that a 17-year-old man was arrested "on suspicion of malicious communications" in relation to Twitter threats made against Daley.

Police said the man was detained at a bed-and-breakfast in the southwestern coastal town of Weymouth in the early hours of the morning, and is currently helping police with their inquiries.

The man who made the tweet also apologised in subsequent tweets for any offense he had caused Daley.

In Britain, tweeting messages considered menacing, offensive or indecent can lead to prosecution.