Julian Assange arrested in London

By Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Nick Thompson, Brian Ries and Veronica Rocha, CNN

Updated 4:00 p.m. ET, April 11, 2019
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6:59 a.m. ET, April 11, 2019

Ecuador president explains Assange decision

From CNN’s Max Ramsay in London

File photograph of Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno on March 22.
File photograph of Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno on March 22. Claudio Reyes/AFP/Getty Images

Shortly after the arrest, Lenin Moreno, the President of Ecuador, released a video statement explaining his government’s decision to withdraw the Australian activist’s asylum.

"Today I announce that the discourteous and aggressive behavior of Mr. Julian Assange; the hostile and threatening declarations of his allied organization against Ecuador, and especially the transgression of international treaties, have led the situation to a point where the asylum of Mr. Assange is unsustainable and no longer viable.”

He said Assange had provoked the decision and that Ecuador's patience had "reached its limit," adding that Assange had repeatedly broken the embassy's house rules by installing electronic and distortion equipment and blocking security cameras.

Moreno also confirmed that he had sought legal guidance that Ecuador's position was lawful and "in line with our strong commitment to human rights."

6:55 a.m. ET, April 11, 2019

Russia weighs in on Assange's arrest

From CNN's Nathan Hodge and Mary Ilyushina in Moscow

In a conference call, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked if Russia would give him asylum. Here's his response:

He was arrested in London, so for now I cannot say anything. We certainly hope all of his rights will be respected."
9:25 a.m. ET, April 11, 2019

Watch: Moment Assange was hauled out of the embassy

Video footage captured the dramatic moment Julian Assange was hauled out of the Ecuadorian embassy after seven years inside.

Police officers could be seen carrying the 47-year-old Australian out of the embassy as he gesticulated and shouted, though it was difficult to make out what he said. Officers then made a beeline for the waiting police van.

6:25 a.m. ET, April 11, 2019

WikiLeaks does NOT know where Assange is right now

From CNN’s Claudia Rebaza in London

WikiLeaks does not know where Julian Assange is right now, a WikiLeaks source told CNN.

6:24 a.m. ET, April 11, 2019

The love is gone: Ecuador and Assange had been on the outs for months

Relations inside the Ecuadorian embassy have been deteriorating for months.

It has been seven years since Julian Assange fled to the country's diplomatic mission in Knightsbridge, yards from the world-famous Harrods department store, facing extradition to Sweden on sexual assault allegations that he denied.

Thursday's arrest perhaps comes as little surprise after WikiLeaks held a press conference earlier this week accusing staff at the Ecuadorian embassy of spying on him.

Since Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno took office in 2017, Assange had repeatedly claimed his living situation within the embassy was becoming increasingly hostile, with the country trying to make life more difficult in a bid to force him to vacate the premises. 

Ecuador has consistently denied Assange's allegations.

6:04 a.m. ET, April 11, 2019

UK Home Secretary: "No one is above the law"

From CNN’s Gianluca Mezzofiore in London

Moments after news of Julian Assange's arrest broke, British Home Secretary Sajid Javid tweeted thanks to Ecuador for their cooperation.

6:02 a.m. ET, April 11, 2019

First image of Assange arrest

The first photographs showing the arrest of Julian Assange in central London on Thursday have started to cross.

5:59 a.m. ET, April 11, 2019

More details emerge around Assange's arrest

Here's the full statement from London's Metropolitan Police on the arrest of Assange:

Julian Assange, 47, (03.07.71) has today, Thursday 11 April, been arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) at the Embassy of Ecuador, Hans Crescent, SW1 on a warrant issued by Westminster Magistrates' Court on 29 June 2012, for failing to surrender to the court.
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.

5:59 a.m. ET, April 11, 2019

BREAKING: Julian Assange has been arrested

Julian Assange, the 47-year-old WikiLeaks founder, has been arrested in London.

London's Metropolitan Police confirmed Assange's arrest on Twitter on Thursday morning.

Assange had been living in the Ecuadorian Embassy in central London in 2012 while wanted for questioning over sexual assault allegations in Sweden.

The Swedish case may have since been shelved but he was still wanted by British authorities for jumping bail.

Assange maintained his innocence and claimed the charges were nothing more than an attempt to extradite him to the United States.