Julian Assange Arrested in London

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested Tuesday in London on a Swedish warrant.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been arrested in London. CNN Breaking:

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested Tuesday in London on a Swedish warrant, London’s Metropolitan Police said.

Assange was arrested at a London police station at 9:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. ET) and will appear at the City of Westminster Magistrate’s Court later in the day, police said.
Swedish authorities had issued the warrant for Assange so they can talk to him about sex-crime allegations unrelated to WikiLeaks’ recent disclosure of secret U.S. documents.

Assange’s British lawyer, Mark Stephens, said his client would fight extradition to Sweden, according to Britain’s Press Association. Assange, a 39-year-old Australian, has said he has long feared retribution for his website’s disclosures and has called the rape allegations against him a smear campaign.

Sweden first issued the arrest warrant for Assange in November, saying he is suspected of one count of rape, two counts of sexual molestation and one count of unlawful coercion — or illegal use of force — allegedly committed in August.  Last week, at the request of Sweden’s Stockholm Criminal Court, Interpol issued a “red notice” placing Assange on a list of wanted suspects. British police then asked Swedish authorities for additional details not specified in the initial arrest warrant, a possible indication that the location of the elusive Assange is known. CNN has not confirmed that Assange is in the United Kingdom. Swedish prosecutors said Monday that they had sent additional information the British requested and that the case was being handled in accordance with European laws.

It should be emphasized that the arrest is, at least ostensibly, on sex crimes rather than anything to do with the mass publication of stolen classified documents.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. cshpy says:

    Odd how those whose criminal activities have been exposed by Julian Assange have not been arrested! Such as the ‘certain individual’ who was caught stealing credit card numbers and DNA from diplomats of other countries!!! This individual apparently can committ crimes and an ‘apology’ to the victim makes it ok!!! Either arrest her or open up the prisons of our country and let everyone out who apologizes to their victems!!!!!

  2. John Burgess says:

    cshpy: Collecting DNA can be perfectly legal. Unless they’re assaulting the ‘donor’ or breaking into a place where privacy is expected, they can rummage through trash all they like and collect what they will. Credit card numbers, too, are free for the taking, if they’re discarded with a lack of care.