Julian Assange: UK police drop 24-hour embassy guard | CNN

Julian Assange: UK police drop 24-hour embassy guard

By Susannah Cullinane, CNN
2 minute read
Published 10:33 AM EDT, Mon October 12, 2015
Julian Assange gestures from a police vehicle on his arrival at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on April 11, 2019. Assange, founder of the website WikiLeaks, has been a key figure in major leaks of classified government documents, cables and videos.<br />
Julian Assange gestures from a police vehicle on his arrival at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on April 11, 2019. Assange, founder of the website WikiLeaks, has been a key figure in major leaks of classified government documents, cables and videos.
Jack Taylor/Getty Images
Assange holds a copy of The Guardian newspaper in London on July 26, 2010, a day after WikiLeaks posted more than 90,000 classified documents related to the Afghanistan War.
Assange holds a copy of The Guardian newspaper in London on July 26, 2010, a day after WikiLeaks posted more than 90,000 classified documents related to the Afghanistan War.
LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images
Assange attends a seminar at the Swedish Trade Union Confederation in Stockholm on August 14, 2010. Six days later, Swedish prosecutors issued a warrant for his arrest based on allegations of sexual assault from two women. Assange has always denied wrongdoing.
Assange attends a seminar at the Swedish Trade Union Confederation in Stockholm on August 14, 2010. Six days later, Swedish prosecutors issued a warrant for his arrest based on allegations of sexual assault from two women. Assange has always denied wrongdoing.
BERTIL ERICSON/AFP/Getty Images
Assange, in London, displays a page from WikiLeaks on October 23, 2010. The day before, WikiLeaks released approximately 400,000 classified military documents from the Iraq War.
Assange, in London, displays a page from WikiLeaks on October 23, 2010. The day before, WikiLeaks released approximately 400,000 classified military documents from the Iraq War.
LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images
Assange and his bodyguards are seen after a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland, in November 2010. It was the month WikiLeaks began releasing diplomatic cables from US embassies.
Assange and his bodyguards are seen after a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland, in November 2010. It was the month WikiLeaks began releasing diplomatic cables from US embassies.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
Assange sits behind the tinted window of a police vehicle in London on December 14, 2010. Assange had turned himself in to London authorities on December 7 and was released on bail and put on house arrest on December 16. In February 2011, a judge ruled in support of Assange's extradition to Sweden. Assange's lawyers filed an appeal.
Assange sits behind the tinted window of a police vehicle in London on December 14, 2010. Assange had turned himself in to London authorities on December 7 and was released on bail and put on house arrest on December 16. In February 2011, a judge ruled in support of Assange's extradition to Sweden. Assange's lawyers filed an appeal.
Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images
In October 2011, a month after WikiLeaks released more than 250,000 US diplomatic cables, Assange speaks to demonstrators from the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
In October 2011, a month after WikiLeaks released more than 250,000 US diplomatic cables, Assange speaks to demonstrators from the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images
Assange leaves the High Court in London in December 2011. He was taking his extradition case to the British Supreme Court.
Assange leaves the High Court in London in December 2011. He was taking his extradition case to the British Supreme Court.
Geoff Caddick/AFP/Getty Images
Assange leaves the Supreme Court in February 2012. In May of that year, the court denied his appeal against extradition.
Assange leaves the Supreme Court in February 2012. In May of that year, the court denied his appeal against extradition.
Oli Scarff/Getty Images
Assange addresses the media and his supporters from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on August 19, 2012. A few days earlier, Ecuador announced that it had granted asylum to Assange. In his public address, Assange demanded that the United States drop its "witch hunt" against WikiLeaks.
Assange addresses the media and his supporters from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on August 19, 2012. A few days earlier, Ecuador announced that it had granted asylum to Assange. In his public address, Assange demanded that the United States drop its "witch hunt" against WikiLeaks.
CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images
Assange speaks from a window of the Ecuadorian Embassy in December 2012.
Assange speaks from a window of the Ecuadorian Embassy in December 2012.
Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images
Assange addresses the Oxford Union Society from the Ecuadorian Embassy in January 2013.
Assange addresses the Oxford Union Society from the Ecuadorian Embassy in January 2013.
Philip Toscano/PA Images/Getty Images
Assange appears with Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino on the balcony of the embassy in June 2013.
Assange appears with Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino on the balcony of the embassy in June 2013.
Frank Augstein/AP
Assange speaks during a panel discussion at the South By Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, in March 2014.
Assange speaks during a panel discussion at the South By Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, in March 2014.
David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Assange attends a news conference inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in August 2014.
Assange attends a news conference inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in August 2014.
John Stillwell/AFP/Getty Images
Assange is seen on a video screen in March 2015, during an event on the sideline of a United Nations Human Rights Council session.
Assange is seen on a video screen in March 2015, during an event on the sideline of a United Nations Human Rights Council session.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
Assange, on the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy, holds up a United Nations report in February 2016. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said that Assange was being arbitrarily detained by the governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Assange, on the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy, holds up a United Nations report in February 2016. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said that Assange was being arbitrarily detained by the governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Carl Court/Getty Images
Assange speaks to the media in May 2017, after Swedish prosecutors had dropped their investigation of rape allegations against Assange. But Assange acknowledged he was unlikely to walk out of the embassy any time soon. "The UK has said it will arrest me regardless," he said. "The US CIA Director (Mike) Pompeo and the US attorney general have said that I and other WikiLeaks staff have no ... First Amendment rights, that my arrest and the arrest (of) my other staff is a priority. That is not acceptable."
Assange speaks to the media in May 2017, after Swedish prosecutors had dropped their investigation of rape allegations against Assange. But Assange acknowledged he was unlikely to walk out of the embassy any time soon. "The UK has said it will arrest me regardless," he said. "The US CIA Director (Mike) Pompeo and the US attorney general have said that I and other WikiLeaks staff have no ... First Amendment rights, that my arrest and the arrest (of) my other staff is a priority. That is not acceptable."
Jack Taylor/Getty Images
Assange was seen for the first time in months during a hearing via teleconference in Quito, Ecuador, in October 2018. The hearing was then postponed due to translation difficulties.
Assange was seen for the first time in months during a hearing via teleconference in Quito, Ecuador, in October 2018. The hearing was then postponed due to translation difficulties.
Maria Sol Borja for CNN
A van displays images of Assange and Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst who supplied thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks, outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on Friday, April 5. A senior Ecuadorian official said no decision has been made to expel Assange from the embassy. According to WikiLeaks tweets, sources had told the organization that Assange could be kicked out of the embassy within "hours to days."
A van displays images of Assange and Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst who supplied thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks, outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on Friday, April 5. A senior Ecuadorian official said no decision has been made to expel Assange from the embassy. According to WikiLeaks tweets, sources had told the organization that Assange could be kicked out of the embassy within "hours to days."
Alastair Grant/AP
A screen grab from video footage shows the dramatic moment when Assange was <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2019%2F04%2F11%2Fuk%2Fjulian-assange-arrested-gbr-intl%2Findex.html" target="_blank">hauled out of the Ecuadorian Embassy by police</a> on April 11, 2019. Assange was arrested for "failing to surrender to the court" over a warrant issued in 2012. Officers made the initial move to detain Arrange after Ecuador withdrew his asylum and invited authorities into the embassy, citing the Australian's bad behavior.
A screen grab from video footage shows the dramatic moment when Assange was hauled out of the Ecuadorian Embassy by police on April 11, 2019. Assange was arrested for "failing to surrender to the court" over a warrant issued in 2012. Officers made the initial move to detain Arrange after Ecuador withdrew his asylum and invited authorities into the embassy, citing the Australian's bad behavior.
from Ruptly
Assange gestures from the window of a prison van as he is driven into Southwark Crown Court in London on May 1, 2019, before being sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for breaching his bail conditions in 2012.
Assange gestures from the window of a prison van as he is driven into Southwark Crown Court in London on May 1, 2019, before being sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for breaching his bail conditions in 2012.
Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images
A sketch depicts Assange appearing at the Old Bailey courthouse in London for a ruling in his extradition case on Monday, January 4. A judge <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2021%2F01%2F04%2Fuk%2Fjulian-assange-extradition-wikileaks-us-gbr-intl%2Findex.html" target="_blank">rejected a US request to extradite Assange,</a> saying that such a move would be "oppressive" by reason of his mental health.
A sketch depicts Assange appearing at the Old Bailey courthouse in London for a ruling in his extradition case on Monday, January 4. A judge rejected a US request to extradite Assange, saying that such a move would be "oppressive" by reason of his mental health.
Elizabeth Cook/PA/AP
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

Story highlights

London's Metropolitan Police says it is dropping its 24-hour guard of Julian Assange

The WikLeaks founder has been holed up in Ecuador's Embassy in London since July 2012

Sweden wants to extradite Assange so he can be questioned over rape allegations

London CNN  — 

Police are no longer guarding WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange around the clock, London’s Metropolitan Police said Monday, but are deploying “a number of overt and covert tactics to arrest him.”

Assange has been holed up in London’s Ecuadorian Embassy for more than three years to avoid extradition to Sweden, where prosecutors want to question him over 2010 rape allegations.

The Australian has not been charged and denies the allegations.

Assange has said he fears Sweden would extradite him to the United States, where he could face the death penalty if he is charged and convicted of publishing government secrets through WikiLeaks.

Deployment ‘no longer proportionate’

The Metropolitan Police Service said it remained “committed to executing the arrest warrant and presenting Julian Assange before the court,” but that it continually reviewed its policing operation.

“As a result of this continual review the MPS has today Monday, 12 October withdrawn the physical presence of officers from outside the Embassy,” it said in a statement.

“The operation to arrest Julian Assange does however continue and should he leave the Embassy the MPS will make every effort to arrest him. However it is no longer proportionate to commit officers to a permanent presence.”

The force said it had discussed its decision with Britain’s Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

“Like all public services, MPS resources are finite. With so many different criminal, and other, threats to the city it protects, the current deployment of officers is no longer believed proportionate.”

Some charges dropped

In August, prosecutors announced they were dropping allegations involving sexual molestation and coercion as statutes of limitations in the investigation were running out. Assange can still be investigated on suspicion of rape until 2020, they said.

In May, the Swedish Supreme Court denied Assange’s latest appeal to dismiss an arrest warrant over the allegations.

Prosecutors have agreed to look into conducting interviews in London to move the investigation forward, but the court sees “no reason” to lift the arrest warrant, the Supreme Court said then.