WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been arrested at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed.
Assange was arrested for “failing to surrender to the court” after a warrant was issued by the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 29 June 2012.
The Metropolitan police announced Assange was taken into custody at a central London police station where he will remain until presented before Westminster Magistrates’ Court as soon as possible.
In a statement, the Met police said: “The MPS 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.”
URGENT
Julian Assange did not “walk out of the embassy”. The Ecuadorian ambassador invited British police into the embassy and he was immediately arrested.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 11, 2019
WATCH: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is arrested at the Ecuadorian embassy in London https://t.co/wE9u9wYvCC pic.twitter.com/ajxH5R6aOT
— CNN International (@cnni) April 11, 2019
Julian Assange has been arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service https://t.co/yhOIPbmMo2 pic.twitter.com/dUrDp228In
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) April 11, 2019
Assange had been a resident at the Embassy for almost seven years.
