Breaking news out of London where we’re seeing reports that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been arrested at the Ecuadorian embassy where he’s been living since 2012:
I have been told that Julian Assange has arrested by British police and has been removed from the Ecuadorian embassy
— James Landale (@BBCJLandale) April 11, 2019
BREAKING: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arrested in London after Ecuador withdraws asylum. https://t.co/VOqS2Gp5Rg
— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 11, 2019
The Swedish case has since been dropped, but Assange feared US extradition due to his work with WikiLeaks and remained in the embassy. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. https://t.co/YTbLOlUlPE
— CNN (@CNN) April 11, 2019
FYI – Assange faces the following criminal charges:
– In US, for publication of stolen materials during 2016 election
– In UK, for jumping bail
– Sweden has dropped arrest warrant for alleged sexual assault but has said case could resume.— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) April 11, 2019
And here’s Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno explaining why the country pulled Assange’s asylum:
Ecuador retira asilo a Julian Assange por violar reiteradamente convenciones internacionales y protocolo de convivencia #EcuadorSoberano pic.twitter.com/213BWn4De1
— Comunicación Ecuador (@ComunicacionEc) April 11, 2019
Video of his arrest:
BREAK: Full @Ruptly video of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s arrest by British police this morning pic.twitter.com/tdBw1Kbpxn
— Barnaby Nerberka (@barnabynerberka) April 11, 2019
WikiLeaks response:
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
URGENT: Ecuador has illigally terminated Assange political asylum in violation of international law. He was arrested by the British police inside the Ecuadorian embassy minutes ago.https://t.co/6Ukjh2rMKD
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 11, 2019
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Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional tweets.
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