Briton wrongly held in Mongolia criticises authorities for a 'serious error of judgement'

Hoosain Jacobs, 74, was one of 20 people arrested at Inner Mongolia’s Ordos City airport

Statue of Genghis Khan on the Inner Mongolia University campus. 20 people – including several from the UK – were wrongly detained on suspicion of being terrorists after watching a 40-minute BBC documentary on Genghis Khan (Getty)

A Briton wrongly detained in Inner Mongolia on suspicion of being a terrorist has criticised authorities for a “serious error of judgement” which saw the veteran backpackers thrown out of the country.

Hoosain Jacobs, 74, was one of 20 people – including several from the UK – arrested at Inner Mongolia’s Ordos City airport during a seven-week trip to China.

It was originally thought members of the group might have been watching videos linked to propaganda or terrorism, but it has now emerged they were watching a documentary on Mongol emperor Genghis Khan.

All members of the tour group have since returned to their homelands.

In a statement, Mr Jacobs said: “I can understand that officials in Ordos wish to repair their reputation in relation to their treatment of tourists. However, it would have been better if they had apologised instead for the serious error of judgement on their side.

“It is wrong of them to ascribe any sort of illicit activities to myself, or anyone else in this peaceful tour group.

“I categorically deny that anyone was charged for anything of any kind. The only things watched by myself and the group was a short clip of the 10 best cowboy films of all time and a 40-minute BBC documentary on Genghis Khan. These were watched from a laptop in our hotel.”