Chinese police beat a BBC journalist in Shanghai and briefly arrested him while he was covering anti-government lockdown protests gripping the nation.
Ed Lawrence was detained at the main protest in the city on Sunday, and held for several hours before being freed.
“It is very worrying that one of our journalists was attacked in this way whilst carrying out his duties,” the BBC said.
China’s government said Mr Lawrence hadn’t presented his press credentials.
He had been filming the crowds at the nation’s largest protest in Shanghai at Wulumuqi Middle Road on Sunday.
Footage shared widely on social media showed several police officers grabbing Mr Lawrence and pinning him to the ground.
The BBC said he was beaten and kicked by police officers, and then taken away in handcuffs.
The broadcaster said the treatment of its journalist was “extremely concerning”.
In a statement, it said it had not received an official explanation or apology from China, “beyond a claim by the officials who later released him that they had arrested him for his own good in case he caught Covid from the crowd”.
“We do not consider this a credible explanation,” BBC said.
BBC
