Blind Activist's Brother Makes It Back Home

The brother of blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng has returned home to his village after apparently vanishing yesterday in Beijing, Reuters reports. Chen Guangfu, a 55-year-old laborer and farmer, had fled his home earlier this week to seek legal help for his son, who is in Beijing facing attempted murder charges. The family grew worried when Chen Guangfu failed to return to his hotel room last night, reports the Guardian.

"We're not optimistic," a lawyer friend said at the time. "Guangcheng is also very worried. He's contacting friends to look [for him]." Chen Guangfu's recent story of being chained and beaten by authorities only added to concerns—as did the murder charge against his son, Chen Kegui, who was reportedly defending himself after officials broke into his home last month. Now, however, Chen Guangfu is safely back in Dongshigu village. Said the lawyer: "Brother Fu is now home." (More Chen Guangcheng stories.)