A number of other journalists linked to BBC arrested

TEHRAN,Feb.6(MNA) – The Intelligence Ministry issued a second statement on Tuesday saying a number of other journalists member to a network linked to the BBC have been arrested. On January 27, also a number of journalists from the reformist publications of Arman, Etemad, Bahar, Sharq, and Aseman and ILNA news agency had been arrested. On January 30, the Intelligence Ministry issued the first statement and said that the journalists were arrested on the charges of having links with the BBC, adding that one of the arrestees had been released on bail. The network had members inside the country and abroad, who have been all identified, the statement said. It added that the foreign-based network had more members than the one inside the country, and it mostly consisted of people involved in the unrest following the post-presidential elections in 2009, who had fled the country. The statement noted that the headquarters of the network is based in London and has three working groups in Brussels, Paris and Istanbul. The London headquarters, apart from the so-called media activities, had a mission to make up issues for spreading propaganda, the statement said. It further said that the investigation into the case is underway and more details will be announced in the first appropriate time.