Thursday, 28 Mar 2024

Who is Julian Assange, when will the WikiLeaks founder leave the Ecuador embassy and did he date Pamela Anderson?

WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange has been arrested by British police outside of London's Ecuadorian embassy.

The 47-year-old was ejected earlier this morning – here's what you need to know.

Who is Julian Assange?

The 47-year-old is an Australian native who spearheaded the anti-secrecy group Wikileaks to expose the inner workings of governments, military and trade deals around the world.

Assange is a hacker, freedom of information advocate and considers himself a political refugee.

He was born in Queensland in 1971 and attended the city's Central university where he studied programming, mathematics and physics.

Assange has a software designer son called Daniel with ex-wife Teresa.

Was he arrested outside the Ecuadorian Embassy?

Julian Assange has been arrested by British police and removed from the Ecuadorian Embassy this morning.

The WikiLeaks founder, 47, was taken into custody after failing to surrender to the court in 2012.

A Metropolitan Police statement said: "He has been taken into custody at a central London police station where he will remain, before being presented before Westminster Magistrates' Court as soon as is possible.

"The MPS had a duty to execute the warrant, on behalf of Westminster Magistrates' Court, and was invited into the embassy by the Ambassador, following the Ecuadorian government's withdrawal of asylum."

Why was Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian Embassy?

Assange was visiting Sweden in August 2010 to speak at a conference when he met two women and had sex with them.

They accused him of rape and molestation and Assange was questioned but never charged over the claims.

He was initially told he could leave the country, but in November of that year, Interpol issued a Red Notice for his arrest.

Assange has always denied the claims.

He gave himself up a week later and appeared before a judge in Westminster, where his supporters stumped up £240,000 for his bail.

In June 2012, Swedish prosecutors called for him to be extradited – a measure his lawyers opposed in case he was sent to the US.

On June 19, 2012, he fled bail and applied for asylum in Ecuador, through the embassy in Knightsbridge, London.

The Ecuadorian authorities stated that he could remain in the embassy as long as he wished, and Assange was granted political asylum in August of that year.

On February 6, 2018, Assange's hopes were dashed once again when Westminster Magistrates Court ruled to uphold Scotland Yard's warrant for his arrest.

Though free to leave the embassy, the ruling means he can face arrest and extradition to the US if he steps outside the building.

In February 2018, a UK judge told Assange that he should face the charges against him.

In a stinging attack on Mr Assange, she said he appeared to "consider himself above the normal rules of law".

She said: "Having weighed up the factors for and against and considered Mr Summers' arguments I find arrest is a proportionate response even though Mr Assange has restricted his own freedom for a number of years."

The ruling means that Mr Assange would be arrested by police if he steps outside the embassy.

On March 28, 2018, Ecuador closed off Assange's communications with the outside world after the Australian outcast breached an agreement he had made with the South American country a year earlier.

Ecuador's government said Assange's behaviour online risked jeopardising the nation's relationship with the UK.

Assange is a prolific tweeter and often criticises the British and American governments, as well as the EU.

Prior to having his communications cut, Assange had criticised Britain over its ongoing dispute with Russia over the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a Russian spy who crossed over to work for Mi6.

In July 27, it was reported Ecuador's president said Assange must eventually leave the embassy.

In November, 2018, the US Department of Justice inadvertently named Assange in a court document which suggests the WikiLeaks founder may have been charged in secret.

A court filing from a prosecutor in Virginia in a case unrelated to Mr Assange mentions his name twice.

The document, which urges a judge to keep the matter sealed, states that the charges "would need to remain sealed until Assange is arrested in connection with the charges in the criminal complaint and can therefore no longer evade or avoid arrest and extradition".

The prosecutor later says that "due to the sophistication of the defendant and the publicity surrounding the case, no other procedure is likely to keep confidential the fact that Assange has been charged".

WikiLeaks said on Twitter that it was an apparent "cut and paste" mistake. The Justice Department has said the filing was made in error.

What has Assange being doing inside the embassy?

The Aussie's high-profile visitors include Lady Gaga, Eric Cantona, Yoko Ono as well as Pamela Anderson.

Assange had to have his internet access cut off  to stop him interfering in the US presidential election.

Wikileaks published thousands of emails from Hillary Clinton's campaign in the final weeks of the race for the White House.

Assange defended the publication, denying links with Russia and claims that his website was trying to influence the US vote.

He also has a cat for company, which has its own dedicated Twitter account @EmbassyCat.

A previous version of this story said that Assange had sex with two men who later accused him of rape. In actual fact they were women. The story was corrected on March 10, 2016.

 

 

Was he dating Pamela Anderson?

Baywatch star Pamela Anderson– whose close friendship with Wikileaks founder Assange set tongues wagging – has paid Assange frequent visits at the embassy.

The 51-year-old actress was introduced to Assange by Vivienne Westwood in August 2014, and sought advice from him about her animal rights charity.

On Anderson, who has been pictured entering the building on six occasions, Assange has said: "She’s an attractive person with an attractive personality and whip smart."

Asked if he was in love with Pam, he added: "Well I mean I like her, she’s great. I’m not gonna go into private details."

In an interview with Australian hosts Kyle and Jackie O Pamela appeared to hint at a relationship, saying: “It was never the intention to become romantic.

"It was just to join forces to do something important. Things happen for sure.”

In a blog post published in March 2016 she said: "Julian is trying to free the world by educating it. It is a romantic struggle.

"I love him for this."



 

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