WikiLeaks' Founder Julian Assange Arrested in Ecuadorian Embassy in London

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WikiLeaks Twitter reported that Assange, who was arrested in the Ecuadorian embassy in London today, will be brought to Westminster Magistrates court "this afternoon".

British police have confirmed that the arrest of Julian Assange comes in relation to an extradition warrant from the US authorities. Earlier, Julian Assange's lawyer Jennifer Robinson stated that her client was arrested by UK police on 11 April not just over violating bail conditions by hiding in the Ecuadorian Embassy for 7 years, but also an extradition request from the US. 

Photo: AP.

At the same time, UK Junior Foreign Minister Alan Duncan noted that London was not conducting talks with Washington on Assange's extradition and added that the UK doesn't extradite people to states, where they can face the death penalty.

"It is our broad policy in all circumstances, so it equally applies to Julian Assange", he said.

Assange's lawyer, cited by the whistleblower's mother, alleged that the WikiLeaks' founder will face a court hearing within 24 hours after his arrest. He reportedly added that British authorities will be demanding a maximum prison term of 12 months for his violations.

On the news of Assange's apprehension by UK police, reports have surfaced that attorney of a woman, who accused the whistleblower of rape in 2010, leading to his arrest in London, is seeking to resume the case. Sweden's prosecutor said that there was no time to evaluate the news on Assange's arrest and added that the authorities will announce a decision about reopening the rape case later.

The WikiLeaks' founder himself labelled the case back in 2010 as "politically motivated". Sweden dropped the charges in 2017 stating that there was no way to see Assange arrested and extradited to the country in the foreseeable future, due to him having claimed asylum. The country was considering dropping charges even earlier, in 2013, but was dissuaded from doing so by the English Crown Prosecution Service.

During his arrest, Julian Assange called on the UK to "resist this attempt by the Trump administration", allegedly referring to Washington's efforts to extradite the WikiLeaks' founder to the US so he can face prosecution over releasing secret American documents.

Former US National Security Agency contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden has slammed Assange's arrest as a "dark moment" for press freedom. He noted that the "images" of the WikiLeaks' founder being dragged out of the Ecuadorian Embassy "will end up in the history books".

WikiLeaks has accused Ecuador of illegally terminating Assange's political asylum in violation of international law, leading to his arrest by UK authorities. The whistleblowing website stated that "powerful actors" such as the CIA, had used "sophisticated" efforts to dehumanise Julian Assange.

UK police have officially announced that they arrested WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. The official statement from the police says Assange was arrested "for failing to surrender to the court" and was taken to a central London police station, where he will stay until he goes to the Westminster Magistrates' Court. The police noted that they had been invited into the embassy by the Ecuadorian Ambassador after the country withdrew his asylum.