London: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been in hiding for nearly a week, was arrested here today on suspicion of rape after surrendering over a Swedish warrant, a move described as an attack on the freedom of press by his whistle-blower website that has leaked a cache of secret US cables.
39-year-old Assange, an Australian citizen, was arrested by the Metropolitan police on the basis of an arrest warrant issued from Sweden relating to allegations of sexual assaults against him.
The elusive WikiLeaks founder and Editor-in-Chief has denied allegations that he sexually assaulted two women in Sweden.
In a statement, police said: “Officers from the Metropolitan Police Extradition Unit have this morning arrested Julian Assange on behalf of the Swedish authorities on suspicion of rape.”
Assange “was arrested on a European Arrest Warrant by appointment at a London police station at 9.30 am.
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