Julian Assange arrested by UK police at Ecuadorian embassy

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

He was arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service at the Embassy of Ecuador, Hans Crescent, SW1 on a warrant issued by Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 29 June 2012, for failing to surrender to the court.

He has been taken into custody at a central London police station where he will remain, before being presented before Westminster Magistrates’ Court as soon as possible.

He has been further arrested on behalf of the United States authorities, at 10:53am after his arrival at the central London police station. This is an extradition warrant under Section 73 of the Extradition Act. He will appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court later today (Thursday, 11th April).

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.

Ruptly a video channel associated with Russia’s RT, posted a video of Julian Assange being taken into custody this morning.

WikiLeaks reported last week that a “high level source within the Ecuadorian state” had said that Assange would be expelled within “hours to days,” and that it had already agreed to let the UK arrest Assange.

BREAKING: A high level source within the Ecuadorian state has told @WikiLeaks that Julian Assange will be expelled within "hours to days" using the #INAPapers offshore scandal as a pretext–and that it already has an agreement with the UK for his arrest.https://t.co/adnJph79wq

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) 4 April 2019

In a statement the Minister of State for Europe and the Americas, Sir Alan Duncan said “It is absolutely right that Assange will face justice in the proper way in the UK. It is for the courts to decide what happens next. We are very grateful to the Government of Ecuador under President Moreno for the action they have taken. Today’s events follow extensive dialogue between our two countries. I look forward to a strong bilateral relationship between the UK and Ecuador in the years ahead.”