Chinese police arrest ITN reporter and Tibet protesters outside Olympics

Last Modified: 13 Aug 2008
By: Lindsey Hilsum

A British reporter is briefly detained by police in China whilst covering a free Tibet protest.

John Ray, who works for ITN, which also makes Channel 4 News, was forcibly removed along with demonstrators.

Our China correspondent Lindsey Hilsum was also there.

ITN said today that it would be making the strongest possible protest to the Chinese authorities following the arrest and detention of its China correspondent John Ray.

Ray was arrested whilst he and his camera team were filming a pro-Tibetan protest about half a mile from the Olympic stadium. Ray was detained for about 20 minutes and sustained minor injuries.

The foreign secretary, David Miliband, said he was "very concerned" and has been in contact with the Chinese foreign ministry about the incident.

A spokesman for ITN said: "John Ray is a fully accredited China correspondent who was doing his legitimate job as a journalist. We intend to protest in the strongest possible terms to the Chinese authorities and seek assurances that the treatment meted out to Mr Ray will not be repeated."