1 year ago
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Chinese constabulary assaulted and detained a BBC writer covering a protestation successful Shanghai connected Sunday, releasing him aft respective hours, the broadcaster has said.
“The BBC is highly acrophobic astir the attraction of our writer Ed Lawrence, who was arrested and handcuffed portion covering the protests successful Shanghai,” a spokesperson for the British nationalist work broadcaster said.
“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.”
Shanghai is 1 of a fig of Chinese cities that person seen protests implicit stringent Covid restrictions. Protests flared successful caller days aft a deadly occurrence successful China’s acold west.
Footage connected societal media showed a antheral whom different journalists identified arsenic Lawrence being arrested by men successful constabulary uniforms.
The BBC said it had not been fixed a credible mentation for Lawrence’s detention.
“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.”
I’m astatine the country of past night’s bonzer anti Covid-zero protestation successful Shanghai. Many radical are gathered present softly watching. Lots of cops. Two girls laid flowers which were promptly removed by police. One antheral drove past with mediate digit up astatine police. #shanghai
— Edward Lawrence (@EP_Lawrence) November 27, 2022Lawrence, a elder writer and camera relation for the BBC’s China bureau, was tweeting from the country of the protestation successful Shanghai connected Sunday greeting UK time.
He wrote: “I’m astatine the country of past night’s bonzer anti Covid-zero protestation successful Shanghai. Many radical are gathered present softly watching. Lots of cops.”
Another tweet read: “One antheral has conscionable approached maine to accidental his flowers were confiscated by police.
“As helium tells maine this, 2 cops travel implicit to perceive to our conversation.”
China’s embassy successful London has been approached for comment.
English (US)