Unic Press UK: Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks – a notable whistle-blowing organisation – has been arrested by the UK authorities.
Assange was whisked away Thursday morning from the Embassy of Ecuador, where he’s been taking ‘solitary’ refuge since 2012.
Assange’s legal counsel Jen Robinson confirmed the arrest of her client via a tweet: “Just confirmed: #Assange has been arrested not just for breach of bail conditions but also in relation to a US extradition request. @wikileaks @khrafnsson.”
WikiLeaks also wrote on Twitter: “BREAKING: Assange has been arrested for extradition to the United States for publishing.”
In a statement today, the Metropolitan Police said:
“Julian Assange, 47, (03.07.71) has today, Thursday 11 April, been arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) 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 is possible. 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.”
Assange’s travails are connected with WikiLeaks release in 2010 of classified information of the United States military, which the organisation WikiLeaks is believed to have sourced through Chelsea Manning (formerly Bradley Edward Manning) – a former soldier of the U.S. Army, who was convicted of Espionage and other offences relating to disclosing sensitive – classified/unclassified – information.
Soon after the deluge of sensitive data of the United States government/military became public knowledge through the whistle-blowing of WikiLeaks, the U.S. initiated measures for Assange to be arrested and extradited to the U.S. to face charges in court.
Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, charged in computer hacking conspiracy. Click here for copy of the indictment: https://t.co/9JItxR6VRX
— U.S. Attorney EDVA (@EDVAnews) April 11, 2019
