Indian, eight others criminally detained: China

Nine people, including an Indian, who were part of a 20 member group on an excursion to China have been "criminally detained", authorities said.

China detained five South Africans, three Britons and one Indian for suspected ties to a "terror group" after being accused of watching banned videos, reported china.org.cn.

China's foreign ministry said on Wednesday that the nine were "criminally detained", which means suspects have likely been charged and could be prosecuted. The 11 others will be deported.

All are suspected of violating the law, the ministry said but didn't elaborate.

'Gift of the Givers Foundation' has said in a Facebook post that the group was on a tour to explore ancient China as part of "a planned 47-day journey for 10 South Africans, nine Britons and one Indian national".

The Indian as well as the other group members were not identified in the post.

The charity said the trip "went horribly wrong on Friday, July 10, when they were arrested at Erdos airport, Inner Mongolia, at 9.40 a.m. local time".

It said no reasons were given for the detention.

India is working to provide consular access to its national arrested in China.