China arrests BBC journalist masking COVID protests

A man is arrested while people gathering on a street in Shanghai on November 27, 2022, where protests against Chinas zero-Covid policy took place the night before following a deadly fire in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang region. — AFP — A person is arrested whereas folks gathering on a road in Shanghai on November 27, 2022, the place protests in opposition to China’s zero-Covid coverage passed off the evening earlier than following a lethal hearth in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang area. — AFP

LONDON: The BBC mentioned on Sunday one in every of its journalists in China had been arrested and crushed by police whereas masking protests in opposition to the nation’s zero-Covid coverage.

A whole lot of individuals took to the streets in China’s main cities on Sunday in a uncommon outpouring of public anger in opposition to the state.

“The BBC is extraordinarily involved concerning the therapy of our journalist Ed Lawrence, who was arrested and handcuffed whereas masking the protests in Shanghai,” the broadcaster mentioned in a press release.

Lawrence, working within the nation as an accredited journalist, was detained for a number of hours, throughout which era he was crushed and kicked by police, in line with the BBC. He was later launched.

“It is vitally worrying that one in every of our journalists was attacked on this manner while finishing up his duties,” the assertion mentioned.

“We’ve had no official clarification or apology from the Chinese language authorities, past a declare by the officers who later launched him that they’d arrested him for his personal good in case he caught Covid from the group,” the assertion added.

“We don’t think about this a reputable clarification.”

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