China's best-known artist Ai Weiwei has been detained at Beijing airport this morning and police have surrounded his studio in the capital.
The 53-year-old, who designed the Olympic Bird's Nest stadium, has been an outspoken critic of the government. Although he has previously experienced harassment by officials, he appeared to be relatively protected by the status of his late father, a renowned poet, and his high international profile; last year, he created the Sunflower Seeds installation for Tate Modern.
Ai Weiwei was detained on the morning of April 3rd at Beijing Capital Airport as he attempted to fly to Hong Kong. He was accompanied by his assistant, who was allowed to travel and has already arrived safely in Hong Kong. Ai Weiwei remains in police custody and his phone is turned off. No one has been able to confirm his whereabouts since his detainment around 7 am BST. Eight of Ai Weiwei’s studio assistants have also been taken into local police custody at the Caochangdi station.
A friend of Ai Weiwei and Twitter persona known as ‘wentommy’ was removed from a residence in Caochangdi by 4-5 plainclothes police officers driving a unmarked black sedan. This occurred as power was cut to Ai Weiwei’s FAKE Studio. Police officers swarmed the Beijing compound, searching computers and interrogating Ai’s wife, Lu Qing. Guardian correspondent Jonathan Watts biked to the compound and photographed the police presence, only to have his camera confiscated by plainclothes police officers.