This article is more than 1 year old

London cops order Julian Assange to turn himself in

Erratic leaker too busy boning up on Ecuadorian anthem

WikiLeaker-in-chief Julian Assange was served with an extradition notice by the Metropolitan police this morning.

Scotland Yard said that the 40-year-old Australian, who holed himself up in the Ecuadorian Embassy's digs in London a week ago in an effort to seek political asylum, was required to "attend a police station at date and time of our choosing".

Before adding: "This is standard practice in extradition cases and is the first step in the removal process."

As we reported last week, Assange's bizarre plea for shelter from being extradited to Sweden to face allegations of coercion, sexual molestation and rape meant that he had broken one of the conditions of his UK bail terms, which had been in force since his arrest in December 2010.

He had been cuffed, courtesy of a European Arrest Warrant, by the Met's extradition unit on behalf of Swedish authorities.

By taking up residence in the Ecuadorian Embassy's flat in Knightsbridge, London, the computer hacker broke a curfew set out by Scotland Yard, which demanded that Assange remain holed up at his bail address between the hours of 22.00 and 8.00.

The moment he steps outside the door, Assange will be re-arrested under the Bail Act by police officers currently camped outside the embassy.

Scotland Yard said today that Assange "remains in breach of his bail conditions, failing to surrender would be a further breach of conditions and he is liable to arrest".

Meanwhile, Ecuador has yet to respond to Assange's diplomatic plight. ®

More about

TIP US OFF

Send us news


Other stories you might like