ITV reporter arrested in Beijing

ITV News journalist John Ray has been arrested in Beijing while covering a Free Tibet protest. Mr Ray was released soon after the incident at the Chinese Ethnic Culture Park, near the National Stadium. He was taken away by police as members of the campaign group handcuffed themselves to each other and bicycles Eight members of the campaign group were eventually arrested after two of them hung a Free Tibet banner. Mr Ray, who has been based in Beijing since 2006, is ITV News' first China correspondent. Describing the incident he said: "I was held in a restaurant and physically and forcibly restrained there. "I tried to explain to these people that I was a journalist but they dragged me out and slung me in in the back of a police van and held me there for another few minutes. "Nobody punched me but they were very forceful and I have a cut knee and a bruise on my finger. They basically dragged me into the restaurant and then out, and took my shoes off me. "I was able to eventually show them my journalist credentials and they realised I was a British journalist and the next time the door of the van opened I was able to walk out. "They did ask me, in English, what my views were on Tibet and I said 'I don't have any views, I'm a journalist'. "I was there purely to report on a protest and took no part in the protest itself. "We then contacted the British Embassy and they are taking it up at consular level."

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ITN | August 13, 2008

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