Four men arrested as part of a Garda investigation into paramilitary activity in Co Donegal last night are understood to be BBC journalists.
The men, who are being held at three separate Garda stations in Donegal, were working on a BBC Northern Ireland current affairs investigation.
A report on the BBC's website said the men had full editorial authority under the BBC's guidelines and that other parties present during the arrests were fully aware that they were with BBC journalists.
The seven men are being held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. A Garda spokeswoman said: "The arrests relate to ongoing investigations into paramilitary activity."