Police hold two after child abuse allegations

Two suspects have been criminally detained after a police investigation into a rehabilitation center in Beijing for hearing-impaired children, following videos and pictures allegedly showing staff members abusing the children that went viral on social media on Wednesday night, the local government said on Thursday.

In a video posted by Sina Weibo user Youshangdeshaoxiao, a crying child allegedly being mistreated at Beijing Mingsheng Hearing Rehabilitation Center was seen being poked by a staff member with a stick. In a picture the user posted, a woman who is allegedly a staff member was seen sitting on top of another child.

According to the user who posted the video, most of them are hearing-impaired, with autism and developmental delays. The teachers often turn the children upside down and slap their bottoms, and some teachers hit them with brooms. Hygiene in the center is also poor, according to the post.