British Reporter Arrested by Chinese Police as Camera Rolls
ROBERTS: Nine minutes after the hour. Welcome back to the "Most News in the Morning." This is the Olympics that we've come to enjoy the past few days. Triumph in the pool, the enduring Olympic spirit. But outside of the venue it's often a different story. China has been working hard to crack down on pro-Tibet protesters. And one British reporter found himself in the middle of it all with his camera rolling. Here's ITN's John Ray.</s>JOHN RAY, ITV NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): China promised to welcome the world. The days on the floor and its space. A day that began with a brief moment of protest soon snuffed out. The banner is illegal but our presence as journalist permitted by commitments made by Beijing in return for the games. Yet it seems no one has told the police.</s>PROTESTERS: Free Tibet!</s>RAY: At the entrance to a park close to the Olympic stadium, activists chain themselves together. The authorities are in a fury. This campaign has proclaimed the cause of Tibet.</s>PEMA YOKO NORBU, STUDENTS FOR A FREE TIBET RESTRICTIONS: We're so lucky that we have all these Western supporters to fight for us because this is a nonviolent war. And we will continue and we will go on and we will be strong. Because we won't give up. This is our right.</s>RAY: And this is the moment I encountered the Chinese response. I'm bundled away, pushed to the floor, pinned down. But perhaps 15 minutes they hold me then I'm forced into a police van, a brief taste of Chinese law and order.</s>RAY (on camera): I've been arrested. These people are arresting me. I've been arrested by the Chinese police for doing -- just trying to cover the protest here. I was inside the park. I was physically manhandled to the ground and dragged out. And then three or four more police came, wrestled me into the restaurant here. And they've taken my shoes off me. They've taken my equipment bag. They've taken all the equipment I've got, and they won't tell me why I've been arrested. Are you arresting me? It's not a time for cool reflection. (voice-over): A Chinese colleague tells him I'm a journalist. (on camera): I'm a journalist. You're arresting me. Why are you arresting me? (voice-over): And I show my Olympic accreditation. If I could, what does it do? (on camera): I'm a journalist. (voice-over): We drove only a few yards. In the back I was questioned about my views on Tibet. I told them again and again I had come only to report a protest. Eventually, that won me my freedom. John Ray, ITV News, Beijing.</s>CHETRY: There's a new Web site that could make it easier for the public to file lawsuits. But could it also help generate an avalanche of frivolous cases? It's whocanisue.com. Our Sunny Hostin joins us in about 10 minutes to tell us more. Also, we have Rob Marciano with us. He's watching extreme weather for us this Thursday morning. Hey, Rob.</s>ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Kiran. I'm looking up this thing that continues to bubble up towards the Caribbean heading towards the U.S. We'll talk about that. Plus, hockey puck-sized hail reported yesterday. Guess where? It's close to Canada. The "Most News in the Morning" will be right back.