UK journalist faces Thai jail for carrying protective gear

A British journalist faces jail time after he was arrested at Thailand's main airport with a gas mask and plates for a bullet-proof vest, which police said today breached a law that classifies the protective gear as war weapons.

Anthony Cheng, who works for Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, was detained at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport Monday night on his way to report in the war-torn Iraqi city of Mosul where troops are battling the Islamic State group.

Gas masks and ballistic vests, which are frequently used by reporters around the world, are classified as war weapons in Thailand and require a licence.

Violating the legislation is punishable by up to five years in jail.

"A British national was arrested and charged with illegal possession of war weapons last night at the airport," airport policeman Somchart Maneerat told

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)