China detains prominent 'underground' pastor

The founder of a prominent Chinese underground church has been detained along with more than 20 of its members in a sweeping national crackdown, according to his daughter and one of its pastors.

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Police arrested Jin Mingri, who founded the unregistered Zion Church, at his home in the southern region of Guangxi on Friday along with several pastors in other cities including Beijing were taken into custody overnight.

Jin was detained on "suspicion of the illegal use of information networks", a detention notice verified by AFP showed.

At least seven pastors including Jin, who also goes by Ezra, may face criminal charges for "illegal dissemination of religious information via the internet", according to a church statement.

Police searched their homes and confiscated their computers and cell phones.

"It is just a blatant attack on religious freedom," Jin's daughter Grace said.

Since Thursday, police have apprehended church leaders and members in Shanghai, Beijing, Zhejiang, Guangxi, Shandong, Sichuan and Henan, according to a list compiled by church members seen by AFP.

Four people have since been released following interrogation.