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A journalist covering historic protests against President 's lockdown rules in was arrested and beaten by police officers, with Chinese officials later making the bizarre claim that he was detained for his 'own good' in case he caught Covid from the crowd.
Shocking footage from the anti-government protests in Shanghai shows Edward Lawrence, a camera operator for the BBC's China Bureau, being dragged away by Xi's officers as he screams 'call the consulate now' to a friend.
Mr Lawrence was beaten and kicked by the police officers and held in custody for 'several hours' before being released, as Chinese officials sought to crack down on the media and protesters in the city.
The British journalist said today that at least one local was arrested after they tried to stop the police from beating him during his arrest.
Footage also shows the journalist helpless on the ground with three aggressive officers in hi-vis jackets standing over him and pulling his arms behind his back
A man is arrested during the protests in Shanghai on November 27, which are the largest China has seen in decades
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Shanghai police officers tried to dismiss the arrest as being for Mr Lawrence's 'own good', claiming that he was arrested 'in case he caught Covid from the crowd'.
The BBC dismissed the farfetched explanation as implausible.
The UK's Business Secretary Grant Shapps today denounced the officers' actions as 'unacceptable' and 'concerning'. He told LBC radio: 'Whatever else happens, freedom of the press should be sacrosanct.'
Dr Alan Mendoza, executive director of the human rights group the Henry Jackson Society in London, told the Mail: 'This latest outrage shows the true face of the Chinese Communist Party's regime in attacking all the values the West hold dear.
'Media freedom is essential to our system and the Chinese crackdown against it needs the strongest of refutations from the UK Prime Minister.
This is no time for him to go wobbly.'
China is facing its largest anti-government demonstrations since the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, with protests erupting in at least seven cities over the country's strict zero-Covid rules.
The catalyst for the protests was an apartment fire last week in the western city of Urumqi in which ten people died.
Many speculated that Covid curbs in the city, parts of which had been under lockdown for 100 days, had hindered rescue and escape, which city officials denied.
The largest of the demonstrations has taken place in Shanghai - home to 26million residents - with many also boldly demanding that President Xi resign.
China's foreign ministry today insisted the government's 'fight against Covid-19 will be successful'.
A number of protesters have been detained by police - among them Mr Lawrence - but it is difficult to know how many due to a crackdown on independent media outlets in China.
Mr Lawrence shared a statement by the BBC about his arrest, adding that he understands at least one local national was arrested 'after trying to stop the police for beating me'.
He continued: 'Thanks very much for the kind words and messages of concern.'
Mr Lawrence could be heard desperately screaming 'Call the consulate' as he was aggressively taken away by Chinese officers
People chant anti-government slogans while gathering on a street in Shanghai on November 27 amid historic protests
Residents gather for a vigil and hold white sheets of paper in protest over Covid restrictions in Beijing on Sunday
Protesters gather along a street during a rally for the victims of a fire which killed ten people.
They believe the rescue was hindered by the country's strict lockdown rules
A spokesman for 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 whilst carrying out his duties.
We have had no official explanation or apology from the Chinese authorities, beyond a claim by the officials who later released him that they had arrested him for his own good in case he caught Covid from the crowd. We do not consider this a credible explanation.'
China's foreign ministry today claimed that Mr Lawrence had not identified himself as a journalist.
'Based on what we learned from relevant Shanghai authorities, he did not identify himself as a journalist and didn't voluntarily present his press credentials,' foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, telling international media to 'follow Chinese laws and regulations while in China'.
Mr Lawrence has been providing updates of the extraordinary protests across China.
Most incredibly, some protesters have been heard shouting 'Down with the party!' and 'Down with Xi Jinping!' as Chinese nationals become further enraged by Beijing's 'zero-Covid' policy.
Footage circulated on social media showed crowds tearing down metal fences and barricades across China as they grappled with security officers who deployed their batons and tear gas in attempt to control the protesters.
Video also appears to show police attacking anti-lockdown protesters who had been arrested and put on buses in Shanghai on the third day of unrest in the world's most populous nation.
Hundreds gathered on the banks of the Liangma river in Beijing in near-freezing temperatures, many of whom were holding pieces of blank white paper - a symbolic protest Covid fencing is torn down as nationwide public anger mounts over the 'zero-Covid' policy curbs in Wuhan on Sunday
Police form a cordon during the protest in Beijing on Sunday. Protesters took to the streets after a deadly apartment fire in Xinjiang province sparked outcry as many blamed Covid restrictions
A video grab shows a line of police vehicles during protests against China's Covid-19 restrictions in Shanghai
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