Natalie McGarry: Scottish MP behind JK Rowling feud detained by Turkish special forces

Scottish MP Natalie McGarry has been detained by Turkish special forces. Local media reported that McGarry was held in the Sur district of Diyarbakir, a Kurdish-majority region in the south east of the country.

Confirming reports of the arrest in Turkey, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "A British national was briefly detained and released in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Our embassy staff were in close contact with local authorities."

Glasgow East MP McGarry confirmed she was safe on Twitter. "Thank you for any concerns, but I am safe and absolutely fine," she told Twitter followers.

McGarry resigned the SNP whip last year after an investigation into missing funds from the Women for Independence campaign group.

The Courier reports that she was in Turkey as part of a trip organised by the GMB union seeking the release of Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned by Turkish authorities for 17 years.