Julian Assange was Arrested in London 1 hr ago.

[boston bean]

breaking news on CNN

[LooseWilly]

1. It'll be interesting to see what's in all those documents that are bound to begin leaking...

Should be juicy... if we don't get bamboo curtained...

[HipChick]

16. This has all the makings of a law and order UK episode

oh the drama...Now where are the files?

[Blue_Tires]

20. This has all the makings of a Kafka/Ludlum mash-up...

[LooseWilly]

34. Hehe, Kafka/Ludlum... Brilliant!

Nailed it on the head, methinks.

[Heidi]

2. Kick.

:kick:

[Le Taz Hot]

3. This is surreal.

I hope he was able to send out the key.

[TorchTheWitch]

4. you do realize that he's not the only person with Wikileaks?

I'm finding it really odd that more and more here people are making Wikileaks all about Assange who is nothing more than a spokesperson.

[Le Taz Hot]

7. There are so many branches and side stories

to this that it is very possible that I may have missed points along the way. It's a fast-moving story so the fact that not everyone knows everything at all times is not at all odd.

[KharmaTrain]

21. +10000

[yurbud]

6. my first thought was ''Good! Now all those documents with the key will get out.''

[crikkett]

18. except it won't. Fakeout!

this is starting to look like everything else: fakeout.

[TexasObserver]

5. They need to release everything now.

The world has been made a mess by the treachery that is common place among nations. Let their bad actions become known. Let them deal with the horror of TRUTH in the place of their non stops lies.

[jefferson_dem]

8. He surrendered to police.

Some details

Australian Figurehead of Controversial Website Surrenders to Police for Questioning on Swedish Sexual Misconduct Warrant

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/12/07/world/main7124779.shtml

[mmonk]

26. Yes, because the charge or claim was changed in the new warrant.

It was getting stickier.

[Raphael Weber]

9. Misconduct

What I find strange:
Often it is stated that he is accused of rape but as far as my info goeshe is charged of misconduct. Sex without a condom.
Not exactly the same thing.

[TorchTheWitch]

11. if you get your info here no doubt you're confused

He's been charged with rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion...

http://www.aklagare.se/In-English/
The matter concerning Mr. Assange

Julian Assange has been detained in his absence charged with rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion. Mr Assange had appealed the detention decision issued by Svea Court of Appeal.

Today the Supreme Court has taken a decision not to grant Julian Assange leave to appeal. If the Supreme Court is to hear an appeal, leave to appeal must first be granted. Leave to appeal is only granted if the case is assessed as being very important to the application of the law or if other extraordinary reasons apply.

The arrest warrant is based on the detention decision that has now been examined by all three legal instances. The additional information requested by the British Police concerns the penalties for the other crimes, in addition to rape, that Julian Assange was arrested for. This information will be supplied immediately. The previous arrest warrant stands.


Contrary to popular belief here, Sweden does not have a law that makes having sex without a condom a rape charge. That's just absurd on its face.

It should be obvious to anyone that the rape charge has to do with something that occurred during the consensual sex having to do with a condom that made continuing the sex unconsensual. One of the women said that the last time they had sex upon waking in the morning she realized he was not wearing a condom, told him to stop, and he didn't. If that is the case, then it's a perfectly legitimate rape charge in anyone's book since consent to sex can be withdrawn at any time during the act.

[Raphael Weber]

13. Thanks for the

clarification!

[unapatriciated]

14. please see post 12 for more "clarification".

He has not been officially charged yet, the Swedish police are asking to interview him before deciding on if there is enough evidence to go to trial.

[TorchTheWitch]

25. Sweden has charged him

as far as the extradition is concerned. It's more complicated than charging someone that is already in the country... obviously since they're in the country they wouldn't have to be extradited from elsewhere. Britain has the right to review those charges and agree with them or not. Apparently, they agree with them since they've arrested him.

Extradition particularly between separate countries is really complicated and often takes months. Sweden has to follow these normal extradition protocols, but claiming he hasn't been officially charged because of those protocols is rather silly.

Extradition between countries is very serious. It's not like Sweden just requests it and Britain complies. Britain has to protect his rights to not be forcibly removed from their country, so they have to check out the information concerning the alleged crimes just as carefully as the country interested in any prosecution of those crimes. The fact that now Britain believes that there is sufficient information that makes extraditing him appropriate rather kills the "Sweden's Out To Get Him" meme. Of course, I'm sure there will be no lack of people here willing to claim that Britain jumped on the "Persecute Assange for No Reason" bandwagon.

This afternoon Assange has to appear in court where he can challenge the extradition. If he does, he'll either be held in custody or granted bail until another judge makes a ruling. They'd probably grant him bail since so far he's cooperated. It's a toss up as to whether he'll challenge the extradition or not. I think it would be better for him at this point not to and just go back to Sweden otherwise it looks like his and his attorney's perpetual claims that he's wanted to talk to Swedish authorities and clear his name is a lie. The more he digs his heels in on this more it gives the appearance that he has something to hide especially at this juncture.

I won't be looking at post #12 because whoever wrote it is invisible to me and for good reason.

[unapatriciated]

31. If I'm invisible than why post a response to me.

didn't realize I was so outspoken and rude here to warrant anyone's ignore list. So pray tell what have I done to offend you? I don't have an ignore list cause I'm not offended by other's opinions. Some I agree with some I don't.

on edit: there is confusion regarding rather or not he is officially charged or just wanted for questioning (seems the courts there are in disagreement regarding this) to see if their is enough evidence to go to trial. But you are correct the Swedish courts have reopened the case.

[mmonk]

15. Where do you see that?

I don't see it at the link.

[muriel_volestrangler]

17. I think they updated the text at the link after the arrest; here's some of the earlier text

http://gizmodo.com/5705430/wikileaks-julian-assange-is-now-not-accused-of-rape-updated

[mmonk]

19. Thanks. Just getting it straight for my blog.

[TorchTheWitch]

27. they just updated the link

You can still see the same notice copied at this site:
http://gizmodo.com/5705457/wikileaks-julian-assange-is-not-a-rapist?utm_medium=twitter

Apparently, Sweden's Prosecution Authority website puts out notices as new information arises and doesn't appear to archieve the previous notices elsewhere on the site.

[mmonk]

28. Thanks.

I put the change in claims of the warrants on my blog.

[Catherina]

23. Absolutely false. Your link is so old it doesn't even say that anymore. That was the old lie

Please try to catch up.

[TorchTheWitch]

29. oh please!

They just updated their notice due to today's arrest. Yeah, that's "so old". Considering the notice I posted was first put up on their website Dec. 3rd (a mere few days ago) your "so old" claim is absurd in the extreme and your rudeness and false claims are uncalled for. I also notice that you never drew anyone's attention to these notices and kept running with the LIE that he wasn't charged. I had to post that notice all over the place to let people like you know what was going on. I also notice you never thanked me for helping you to catch up, so your incredibly rude admonishment to catch up is even more uncalled for.

Now that Britain has arrested him today how's that "lie" working out for you?

[Catherina]

32. Assange is NOT CHARGED. There is NO CHARGE because there is no formal complaint

Assange was WANTED FOR QUESTIONING, wanted on suspicion, NOT charged.

Monday 6 December 2010

"Late this afternoon after close of business I got a call from the police who said that they had received an extradition request from Sweden.

"Their request is to interview Julian Assange. He's not been charged with anything.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/blog/2010/dec/06/julian-assange-wikileaks-latest

In an apparently strange move, Julian AssangeJulian Assange was refused bail in a magistrate's court. According to reports, Assange has not been charged and is only wanted for questioning. After being refused bail, Assange vowed to fight extradition to Sweden. The extradition hearing is not expected for weeks.
Julian Assange turned himself into British police after an arrest (Interpol Red Notice) warrant was issued by Swedish prosecutors. An initial warrant lacked details and was updated and reissued. British police contacted Assange's lawyer last night when the new warrant was received. Mark Stephens labeled the move a political stunt.

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7548367-wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-refused-bail

Your defense of the indefensible is dishonest.

[Catherina]

22. He hasn't even been CHARGED. The whole thing is bogus. No charges, just questioning.

Ignore the right wing pundits who are misrepresenting everything to suit their agenda.

[TorchTheWitch]

30. SO WHAT???

He doesn't HAVE to be charged with a crime in order to be extradited! He was charged for allegations of sex crimes in order to extradite him because his refusal to cooperate was holding up the investigation, and Sweden has a right and an obligation to complete their investigation. This has nothing to do with anything right wing and I've never once listened to any stupid pundits on either side of the aisle. I don't have cable tv and only get one channel with the converter box and like it that way. If it wasn't for all the right wing pundit bullshit that shows up on this site I wouldn't even know who the nutcases were. And good job trying to pin this on some right wing conspiracy when it's the Obama administration that's doing all this alleged persecution of the Holy Saint Julian Assange Immaculate Martyr, which no doubt will all be completely swept under the rug when it comes time to vote for him again.

Your blind hero worship is astounding, and you're hardly anyone to complain about operating on an agenda since you and so many others here have fallen all over themselves to smear anyone and any entity that doesn't kiss Assange's ass and worship him.

Just what the hell is it that you and so many others here are so damn afraid of that you have to so viciously defend this guy when you have no knowledge whatsoever what happened between him and these two women to the point where you manufacture the most laughable conspiracy theories that not only don't make any sense but conflict? Just what in the world is it that is so terrifying about acknowledging the very real and very logical possibility however slim that he may actually be guilty? SO WHAT IF HE IS? You don't know him, you don't know what occurred between him and either of those women, he isn't Jesus, and Wikileaks will carry on without him if they have to.

Damn, this place has really and truly sunk into insanity with this nonsense.

[Catherina]

33. "Blind hero worship"? Lol. You are talking about yourself there. n/t

[malaise]

10. BBC says he walked into a police station

in Central London and was arrested.

Free Julian!!

[unapatriciated]

12. link to news regarding arrest

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Julian-Assange-WikiLeaks-Founder-Meets-Police-In-Britain-Over-Sexual-Assault-Claims-In-Sweden/Article/201012115849036?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15849036_Julian_Assange:_WikiLeaks_Founder_Mee

Edited to answer poster TorchTheWitch claim upthread.
according to this article he has not been charged yet.

Marshall said: "It's important to remember that Mr Assange has not been charged with anything, he only wants to be interviewed as a witness, so magistrates may decide they're not happy with sending him to Sweden but that it's ok for police to come over here to interview him. "But if magistrates decide otherwise and he is extradited, the Swedish police will interview him and then decide whether there is enough evidence to go to trial or not."

[KharmaTrain]

24. Let's Clear The Air...

If this is some political frame-up ala Scott Ritter, let's find out. Whose the accuser and let's get facts out there. Let the truth set Assange free...literally. Let this and him stop being a distraction from the value and content of the materials Wikileaks has put out there. This story and site are about more than one man...one who is simply the messenger here. It's those providing the information that take the real risks.

If he has all this other information he claims, then let's see it. What's the value of hiding it other than as some form of personal protection or it's a bluff...and unfortunately I've seen too many who promise to deliver the bombshells that either never show up or are duds. If he has detailed info about bank corruption then shouldn't it be out there considering how fucked up the world economy is right now? This issue is far bigger than one man...or it better be.