Julian Assange faces a year in British jail after dramatic arrest at Ecuadorian Embassy – as US demand we hand him over The WikiLeaks founder, 47, has been holed up in the embassy since 2012 and was dragged out this morning
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8839586/julian-assange-wink-thumbs-up-arrest-embassy/
“NARCISSIST” Julian Assange faces a year in British jail after his dramatic arrest at the Ecuadorian Embassy ended seven years in hiding today.
The bearded WikiLeaks founder has spent 2,487 days holed up in the embassy to avoid Swedish sex claims and US authorities, who want him over an alleged conspiracy with whistleblower Chelsea Manning.
Julian Assange winked and gave a thumbs up from the police van as he arrived at court following the dramatic arrest this morning.
The 47-year-old was blasted a “narcissist who can’t get beyond his own self interest” as he was found guilty this afternoon of skipping bail in 2012 – relating to his time at the embassy.
He now faces a battle against extradition to America where he was today charged in his absence with “one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the US”.
District Judge Michael Snow described Assange’s claim he’s never had a fair hearing as “laughable” before ruling the US must produce an extradition case by June 12.
Earlier the US Department of Justice called for his return to the country and warned he could face up to five years in prison over the government leak allegations.
Swedish lawyers also wants to reopen the sex allegations which first sent Assange into hiding – a move which has cost the British taxpayer more than £10m.
WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:
- Julian Assange found guilty of skipping bail in UK and could face a year in jail
- Earlier he was arrested after 2,487 days holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy – costing taxpayers more than £10m
- He went into hiding in August 2012 to avoid facing extradition to Sweden for sex assault and rape allegations
- Wanted in US for espionage and publication of sensitive government documents
- He fears he could face death penalty if extradited to US over WikiLeaks scandal
- Ecuadorian President said Assange’s release dependent on not facing extradition to country with death penalty
- Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan said “UK courts will decide” his future
Wearing a black suit with his scruffy hair tied back, Assange sat in the dock this afternoon reading Gore Vidal’s History of the National Security State – the book he clutched as he was bundled out of the embassy.
He waved to the public gallery at Westminster Magistrates’ Court before he was remanded into custody. He will now learn his fate at Southwark Crown Court on May 2.
The court heard cops had to call for back up earlier today as Assange tried to barge past them when they arrived to arrest him – forcing officers to lift him from the building.
He was handcuffed and dragged screaming “this is unlawful” from the embassy by British cops after Ecuador withdrew its asylum status.
As he was hauled to a waiting police van, he appeared to shout “the UK has no civility” and “the UK must resist”. Until today, Assange hadn’t left the embassy since August 2012.
He had feared stepping off Ecuador’s diplomatic soil would see him arrested and extradited to the US for publishing thousands of classified military and diplomatic cables.
HIDING FOR SEVEN YEARS
Assange took refuge at the embassy in 2012 to avoid being extradited to Sweden, where authorities wanted to question him as part of a sexual assault investigation. Today one of his accusers demanded the case be reopened.
Scotland Yard earlier confirmed he is being held on behalf of the US authorities – where he is wanted for espionage – as well as breaching his bail conditions in Britain.
America’s involvement raises further questions over the forthcoming battle to be had on his extradition – as his lawyers fear he will face the death penalty if sent to the US.
But Ecuadorian President Moreno said today Britain had confirmed it would not extradite Assange to a country where he could face the death sentence.
After the arrest, Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan said Assange will face “justice in the proper way in the UK” and it will be “for the courts” to decide what happens next.
He insisted Assange would not be extradited to any country where he would stand to face the death penalty.
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