British police arrested WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange Thursday at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Assange had taken refuge in the embassy in 2012. He went there to avoid being sent to Sweden, where he was wanted for questioning as part of a sexual assault investigation. Sweden suspended the investigation in 2017, but Assange remained at the embassy over fears he might be sent to the United States. The U.S. Department of Justice wants him in connection with WikiLeaks’ publication of secret government documents. British police said on Thursday they were invited to the embassy by Ecuador’s ambassador after the Ecuadorian government cancelled its offer of asylum to Assange. A short time later, the U.S. Justice Department announced it was bringing charges against Assange. It accuses him of conspiring to break into U.S. government computers to read secret documents and communications. The Justice Department asked Britain to send him to the United States for trial. His next appearance in a British court is set for May 2.
