In midst of huge China Covid stir, BBC journalist beaten, held by cops

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported on Sunday that a journalist for the network was attacked and detained while covering a protest in Shanghai, China. It said that cameraman Edward Lawrence was handcuffed and detained for several hours before being freed, and that while he was being kept, the Chinese police beat him. Reuters news agency cited a BBC representative as saying, "The BBC is particularly worried by the abuse of our journalist Ed Lawrence, who was detained and shackled while covering the protests in Shanghai.

A plausible justification or apology for Lawrence's incarceration, according to the BBC, were not provided. Beyond the allegation made by the officials who later freed him that they had detained him for his own safety in case he contracted COVID from the throng, the BBC reported that there has been no official justification or apology from the Chinese government.

A number of Chinese cities, including Shanghai, are experiencing protests due to the harsh Covid regulations. Following a tragic fire in Xinjiang, where viral controls were held responsible for hindering rescue attempts, demonstrations erupted over the weekend.