Michael Jackson, shown March 5, 2009, was set to play 10 live concerts at the London O2 Arena in July. (Joel Ryan/Associated Press)

Pop star Michael Jackson is in a coma after being rushed by ambulance to a Los Angeles-area hospital Thursday afternoon after suffering from cardiac arrest, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.

Capt. Steve Ruda, an official with the Los Angeles Fire Department, told the Times that Jackson was not breathing when paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 p.m.

The paramedics performed CPR and took him to UCLA Medical Center, Ruda told the newspaper.

Police in Los Angeles have blockaded streets around Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

The singer was preparing to begin performing again, including a concert series at London's O2 arena, in his first tour since 1997.

Jackson, whose hits include Thriller and Billie Jean, has been rehearsing in the Los Angeles area for the past two months.

There had been recent reports that Jackson was in poor health and his London concert series, billed as a farewell to London, was postponed by a few days.

However, the concerts quickly sold out, a testament to the enduring appeal of the singer known as the King of Pop.

With files from The Associated Press