BBC journalist Ed Lawrence was slapped, kicked, detained and later released by Chinese authorities while covering protests against the “zero covid” restrictive policy in Shanghai, China.
The news was spread by the British public broadcaster, who was “extremely concerned” by the journalist’s arrest.
“Ed Lawrence was beaten and kicked during his arrest,” according to the BBC. “He was then handcuffed and held for several hours before being released,” he added. The journalist covered protests against the extension of the restrictions on combating the pandemic, which the Chinese regime has introduced since 2020.
I am at the site of yesterday’s emergency Covid-zero protest in Shanghai. Many people have gathered here and are quietly watching. Lots of cops. Two girls laid flowers, which were promptly removed by the police. One man drove past with his middle finger raised to the police. #Shanghai
According to the British channel, the Chinese authorities did not give a solid explanation for the arrest of the journalist and did not apologize for his treatment.
Edward Lawrence, who works at the BBC’s Beijing office, traveled to Shanghai to cover the recent protests.
Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan are some of the Chinese cities where thousands of people are gathering on the streets and at universities to challenge the zero covid policy. The strategy includes isolating all positive cases and close contacts, locking down entire areas or cities, and continuously conducting mass testing.
The trigger for the protests, during which the demonstrators demand the removal of Xi Jinping from the presidency, was a fire that claimed the lives of at least 10 people in a residential building in the city of Urumqi in the Xinjiang region on Thursday night.
The Chinese capital, which has been under special outbreak protection since 2020, is now experiencing its highest infection rate, with more than 4,300 new cases identified on Saturday, 82% of which were asymptomatic, according to the latest official report.
These numbers, low by international standards but unacceptable by the Chinese authorities, have resulted in restrictions and restrictions that affect much of the capital’s population.
China broke the record for infections on Saturday, with almost 40,000 new cases, although more than 90% of cases are asymptomatic, according to data from the National Health Commission.
