Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange has been arrested on Thursday morning at the Ecuadorian embassy in London.
Video of julian assange being expelled from the embassy pic.twitter.com/nFEOm8hMGS
— lopm46 (@lopm46) April 11, 2019
Ecuadors president Lenin Moreno said he withdrew Assange’s asylum due to repeated violations to international conventions.
Moreno wrote on Twitter, “In a sovereign decision Ecuador withdrew the asylum status to Julian Assange after his repeated violations to international conventions and daily-life protocols.”
#Ecuador has withdrawn an asylum it granted to Julian #Assange, the country’s president declared https://t.co/RIkPni6DLu pic.twitter.com/6hLzUiGXfC
— RT (@RT_com) April 11, 2019
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement, ” Julian Assange, 47, 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.”
Sajid Javid, the home secretary said on Twitter, “I can confirm Julian Assange is now in police custody and rightly facing justice in the UK.
“I would like to thank Ecuador for its cooperation & metpoliceuk for its professionalism. No one is above the law.”
Sir Alan Duncan, Europe minister 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.”
He added, the arrest followed “extensive dialogue between our two countries.”
Last week WiKiLeaks quoted a “high level source” from within the Ecuador state department, that Julian Assange is to be expelled from the London Ecuadorian Embassy within, the next few “hours to days.”
He sought refuge at the Embassy over fears the US will extradite him to face serious charges of the release of sensitive government information.
WiKiLeaks claims in the report the Ecuadorian Embassy “already has an agreement with the UK for his arrest” once he leaves the Embassy.
It has further been alleged that the Ecuadorian president Lenin Moreno has done a deal to receive debt relief from the US.
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