UK police arrest Wikileaks founder Julian Assange


7 Dec 2010

The man at the centre of the furore generated by leaking official US embassy communications, Julian Assange, has been arrested in London after reportedly handing himself into police in the UK following sexual assault allegations made against him in Sweden.

The Wikileaks founder is due to appear in court in the UK today to face these allegations. Interpol had issued a warrant for his arrest soon after his website published the sensitive US government cables.

According to a report on MSNBC, Assange’s lawyers have revealed he had met with police to discuss the warrant, calling it a “meeting by consent”.

Assange will have to appear before magistrates within 24 hours of meeting police, at which point he can request bail.

The 39-year-old Australian had been added to Interpol’s most wanted list for alleged sex crimes following an arrest warrant issued by the International Public Prosecution Office in Gothenburg, Sweden.