An Indian was among 20 foreigners associated with an African charity arrested by Chinese authorities at an airport in northern Inner Mongolia for suspected links to “a terror group”, British officials and the charity group said on Wednesday.
The reason behind their arrest remains unclear but the tourists, including nine Britons and one Indian, detained at Ordos airport in Inner Mongolia on July 10 were linked to the South Africa-based charity, Gift of the Givers.
“Nine British nationals, and two British and South African dual nationals, have been detained in northern China. Consular staff has visited the group to provide assistance and we are liaising with Chinese authorities,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said.
“This was supposed to be a tour to explore ancient China; a planned 47-day journey for ten South Africans, nine Britons and one Indian. A tour that went horribly wrong on Friday, 10 July, when they were arrested at Erdos Airport, Inner Mongolia, at 9.40 am local time,” the charity said.
11 foreigners released
A team from the South African Embassy and the British Embassy met with the Chinese Foreign Ministry officials on Tuesday morning, it said, adding that 11 of the 20 had been released but would remain in detention without being charged until flights out of China could be booked for them.
The remaining nine — three Britons, five South Africans and one Indian, are being held without charge at a detention centre.
“The Chinese suggested that some members were linked to a terror group, to a banned organisation, to watching propaganda videos in their hotel room,” the charity said on its Facebook page.
Meanwhile, British diplomats in Beijing have indicated that six of the Britons held are likely to be deported soon.
