Police wait to arrest Assange

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is seeking political asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, has breached bail conditions and faces arrest, police said yesterday.

Assange spent the night in the embassy yesterday after making a bid to avoid extradition to Sweden where he is wanted for questioning over alleged sex crimes.

The 40-year-old walked into the embassy on Tuesday and claimed asylum under the United Nations human rights declaration.

The embassy said the Australian national would remain there under the protection of the Ecuadorian government while his application is considered.

Police said that by spending the night there, Assange had breached conditions to stay at his bail address between 10pm and 8am and “he is now subject to arrest under the Bail Act for breach of these conditions”.

A group of eight supporters gathered outside the embassy in the upmarket Knightsbridge district, waving “Free Assange” placards.

Assange exhausted all legal options last week when the Supreme Court refused to reopen his appeal against extradition. He has until Jun 28 to lodge an appeal at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

He confirmed in a statement he was seeking “diplomatic sanctuary and political asylum” and expressed gratitude to Ecuador for considering his request.

The embassy said in a statement: “The decision to consider Mr Assange’s application for protective asylum should in no way be interpreted as the government of Ecuador interfering in the judicial processes of either the United Kingdom or Sweden.”