Julian Assange arrested by British police and removed from Ecuadorian embassy
Julian Assange arrested by British police and removed from Ecuadorian embassy
Ecuador has handed Julian Assange over to British authorities, ending a standoff that left the controversial WikiLeaks founder holed up in the Ecuadoran embassy in London for nearly seven years.
Ecuador, which took Assange in when he was facing a Swedish rape investigation in 2012, said it was rescinding asylum because he of his "discourteous and aggressive behaviour" and for violating the terms of his asylum.
London police arrested Assange at the embassy, which they confirmed was "on behalf of" US authorities as well as the UK.
Sweden dropped its sex crimes inquiry in May 2017 - Assange had always denied the allegations. But he still faces up to a year in prison in Britain for jumping bail in 2012. More than anything, he fears extradition to the United States, which has been investigating him for espionage, the publication of sensitive government documents and coordination with Russia.