Channel 4 News journalists deported from Bahrain

Three journalists from Channel 4 News are being deported from Bahrain back to the UK this morning, after they were detained for reporting on anti-government protests in the country this weekend.

Foreign affairs correspondent Jonathan Miller, cameraman Joe Sheffer and producer Dave Fuller were arrested alongside their driver and a human rights activist.

The team were caught while heading back from filming a demonstration in a village. Miller said on Twitter that their cameras and computers were seized, and that police violently attacked the group's driver.

The three journalists were released last night and are being deported back to the UK this morning.

Miller wrote on Twitter this morning: "Channel 4 three finally being deported aboard a non-British airline. Goodbye Bahrain. I met some lovely people but not many were cops."

Channel 4 News said in a statement: "We are pleased to confirm that our team is safe and on their way back to the UK. We also have confirmation that the team's driver – who they saw assaulted by Bahraini authorities, and human rights activist, Dr Ala'a Shehabi, have also been released."

Bahrain denied entry to several western journalists – including some from Sky, CNN, Reuters and the Financial Times – during this weekend's Formula One Grand Prix

Press freedom campaigners last week accused the government of Bahrain of using the event as a propaganda exercise and preventing journalists reporting on the unrest.

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