WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arrested by UK Police at Ecuadorean embassy

Assange took refuge at the embassy seven years ago to avoid extradition to Sweden over a sexual assault case that has been dropped since then.

Assange had been taken into custody and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court. (Image: AFP)

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been arrested at the Ecuadorian embassy in London

Assange took refuge at the embassy seven years ago to avoid extradition to Sweden

He was also accused of publishing thousands of classified military and diplomatic cables through WikiLeaks.

London: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been arrested at the Ecuadorian embassy in London after seven years. Assange took refuge at the embassy seven years ago to avoid extradition to Sweden over a sexual assault case that has been dropped since then. According to the UK Police, Assange had been taken into custody and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court ‘as soon as is possible’. The 47-year-old also faces allegations that he publicly released secret documents relating to the US. He had been in the embassy in London since 2012. Assange feared that if he steps off Ecuador’s diplomatic soil he will be arrested and extradited to the US for publishing thousands of classified military and diplomatic cables through WikiLeaks. As per reports, Assange had originally sought asylum at the embassy after Swedish authorities wanted to quiz him over allegations of sexual assault and rape. Police also informed that Assange was arrested for failing to surrender to the court. Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno said that Assange's asylum was withdrawn after his repeated violations to international conventions. Minutes after his arrest, WikiLeaks in a Twitter post, said that Ecuador has illegally terminated Assange's political asylum in violation of international law. "Ecuador has illegally terminated Assange political asylum in violation of international law. He was arrested by the British police inside the Ecuadorian embassy minutes ago," it tweeted. The company also informed that Assange did not 'walk out of the embassy'. The Ecuadorian ambassador invited British police into the embassy and he was immediately arrested. "The MPS (Met Police Service) had a duty to execute the warrant, on behalf of Westminster Magistrates' Court, and was invited into the embassy by the Ambassador, following the Ecuadorian government's withdrawal of asylum," an official statement said. The relationship between Assange and his hosts has soured over the years. In March, Assange’s internet access was cut off and he was also forbidden from having visitors.

Published at : 11 Apr 2019 03:43 PM (IST)

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