BBC reporter ‘beaten and kicked’

The BBC has said it is “extremely concerned” after one of its journalists was arrested while covering protests in the Chinese city of Shanghai.

Reporter and cameraman Ed Lawrence was arrested by Chinese authorities and allegedly beaten during demonstrations on Sunday night. Video footage believed to be of Mr Lawrence being manhandled by Chinese police is circulating on social media. He was later released.

Widespread protests have broken out in China in a rare display of public defiance over stringent Covid lockdowns as part of the government’s “zero Covid” strategy.

Crowds in cities across the country have demanded the resignation of President Xi Jinping during protests against measures that confine millions of people to their homes, as cases of the virus rise in China.

Mr Lawrence said he believed one Chinese national had also been arrested after stepping in to help him.

A statement from the BBC said: “The BBC is extremely concerned about the treatment of our journalist, Ed Lawrence, who was arrested and handcuffed while covering the protests in Shanghai. He was held for several hours before being released. During his arrest, he was beaten and kicked by the police.

"This happened while he was working as an accredited journalist.

"It is very worrying that one of our journalists was attacked in this way.”