Police clamp down on China Covid protests 

The weekend protests across China over the Covid restrictions appear to have settled down, as authorities begin clamping down. 

There has been heavy police presence reported in several cities, and some planned gatherings were quelled or failed to materialise. 

Reports have emerged of people being questioned and their phones searched. 

The demonstrations last week had grown after a fire in a high-rise block in Urumqi, western China – 10 people died. It’s widely believed the residents could not escape due to Covid restrictions, but local authorities disputed this. 

As a result, thousands protested the restrictions and called for an end to lockdowns – as well as calling for President Xi Jinping to stand down.