Four BBC journalists among 11 people arrested as part of an Irish police investigation into paramilitary activities have been released without charge, the broadcaster said Monday.
  
The staff had been working on a current affairs investigation and were held over the weekend in County Donegal, in northwest Ireland near the Northern Irish border, by Irish police under anti-terrorism legislation.
  
"Four BBC staff have been released," a spokesman for the BBC told AFP.
  
"Our understanding is that they were released last night."
  
The broadcaster said previously that the staff held had "full editorial authority under the BBC's guidelines" and "other parties present were fully aware that they were with BBC journalists."
  
In a statement, police said: "Four of the initial seven men arrested in relation to this investigation have been released without charge from custody.
  
"The remaining three plus the four arrested yesterday afternoon remain in custody."
  
The remaining seven men, aged between 30 and 48, are being held at a number of police stations in Donegal.