[Excerpt translation from Chinese provided by Business and Human Rights Resource Centre]

Sources said that Zhang Wenbin, an environmental researcher who investigated the pollution caused by the Xiangshui explosion, was out of touch on 25 March. The Chengdong Police Station in Xiangshui confirmed that Zhang was being investigated by the police department. Zhang said when he left the police station that he was called by the police for “picking quarrels and provoking troubles”. The claim has not been verified by the police.

On 21 March when the Xiangshui explosion took place, Zhang visited the explosion site to investigate. Zhang said the police questioned him regarding him publishing live content about the Xiangshui explosion on the Internet. But Zhang’s claim has not been verified by the police.