BBC journalist 'beaten and kicked by the police' as protests spread across China - CNN

CNN Business  — 

Edward Lawrence, a writer astatine the BBC, was arrested by constabulary successful Shanghai astatine the country of protests connected Sunday night, according to the BBC and arsenic captured connected what appears to beryllium mobile telephone footage of the arrest.

While helium has since been released, a BBC spokesperson has expressed utmost interest astir his treatment, saying helium was “beaten and kicked by the police.”

Protests person erupted crossed China successful a uncommon amusement of dissent against the ruling Communist Party, sparked by choler implicit the country’s progressively costly zero-Covid policy.

Among the thousands of protesters, hundreds person adjacent called for the removal of Chinese person Xi Jinping, who for astir 3 years has overseen a strategy of mass-testing, brute-force lockdowns, enforced quarantine and integer tracking that has travel astatine a devastating quality and economical cost.

The BBC connection reads successful full: “The BBC is highly acrophobic astir the attraction of our writer Ed Lawrence, who was arrested and handcuffed portion covering the protests successful Shanghai. He was held for respective hours earlier being released. During his arrest, helium was beaten and kicked by the police. This happened portion helium was moving arsenic an accredited journalist.”

The connection continues, “It is precise worrying that 1 of our journalists was attacked successful this mode whilst carrying retired his duties. We person had nary authoritative mentation oregon apology from the Chinese authorities, beyond a assertion by the officials who aboriginal released him that they had arrested him for his ain bully successful lawsuit helium caught Covid from the crowd. We bash not see this a credible explanation.”

Public protestation is exceedingly uncommon successful China, wherever the Communist Party has tightened its grip connected each aspects of life, launched a sweeping crackdown connected dissent, wiped retired overmuch of civilian nine and built a high-tech surveillance state.

At slightest 2 clips of the apprehension were posted online by a Twitter idiosyncratic who says they witnessed the scene. One clip, filmed from above, shows astatine slightest 4 constabulary officers lasting implicit a handcuffed antheral whose look is obscured.

In a 2nd clip of a antheral wearing the aforesaid clothing, Lawrence’s look is intelligibly identifiable, arsenic constabulary rapidly led him away, and past shouts, “Call the consulate now.”

The witnesser who shared the videos said they saw the writer get “sieged and dragged to the crushed by respective cops.”

It is unclear what happened successful the lead-up to Lawrence’s arrest. The video disposable online begins with his apprehension and does not amusement what happened prior.

CNN reached retired to China’s Foreign Ministry for remark connected the incident. Chinese authorities person not yet made immoderate nationalist statements connected the matter.