WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arrested in London under US extradition warrant
- Justice Department said arrest was in line with extradition treaty and Assange faces five years in prison if convicted of computer hacking conspiracy
- UK court said Assange faces up to a year in prison for skipping bail
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested and dragged out of Ecuador’s embassy in London by British police on Thursday, ending a seven-year stay after the South American country withdrew his asylum to pave the way for his extradition to the United States.
Video footage of the dramatic arrest was watched around the world as the 47-year-old fugitive, looking much older in a long white beard and clutching a book about the military industrial complex, yelled at supporters to “resist” as he was bundled out of the building into a police van.
The arrest was under a 2012 warrant for failure to surrender to court, but police later said Assange was also arrested under a US extradition warrant.
At Westminster Magistrates Court, hours after his arrest, Assange pleaded not guilty to skipping bail, insisting he had a “reasonable excuse”. He was found guilty and could be sentenced to 12 months in prison at a hearing on May 2.
The judge said Assange’s extradition hearing will be on June 12.
The US Justice Department said Britain was abiding by its extradition treaty and Assange faces five years in prison in the US if convicted of computer hacking conspiracy.