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		</div><p><b>Update: </b>Speaking outside of court, Assange’s lawyer Jennifer Robinson said: “Since 2010 we’ve warned that Julian Assange would face extradition to the US for his publishing activities. Unfortunately, today we have been proved right.”</p>
<p>She said they had received a provisional extradition request “alleging that he had conspired with Chelsea Manning over materials that were published by WikiLeaks in 2010”.</p>
<p>“This sets a dangerous precedent for all journalist and media organisations in Europe and around the world – this precedent means that any journalist can be extradited for prosecution in the United States for having published truthful information about the United States.”</p>
<p>She said Assange thanked his supporters and had said: “I told you so.”</p>
<p>WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson told reporters: “This is a dark day for journalism.</p>
<p>“We don’t want this to go forward. This must be averted. The UK Government needs to make assurances that a journalist will never be extradited to the US for publishing activity.</p>
<blockquote><p>“This pertains to publishing activity nine years ago. Publishing of documents and of videos showing killing of civilians, exposure of war crimes. This is journalism.</p></blockquote>
<p>“It’s called conspiracy. It’s conspiracy to commit journalism and we urge everyone to support Julian Assange in fighting this extradition.”</p>
<p><b>Update: </b>Julian Assange has been found guilty of breaching his bail at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and faces a jail sentence of up to 12 months when he is sentenced at Crown Court.</p>
<p>Assange was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court at a date to be set.</p>
<p>He will next appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 2 by prison video-link in relation to the extradition case.</p>
<p>Assange waved to the public gallery as he was taken down to the cells.</p>
<p>The judge described Assange’s defence as “laughable”.</p>
<blockquote><p>He said: “Mr Assange’s behaviour is that of a narcissist who cannot get beyond his own selfish interests.</p></blockquote>
<p>“He hasn’t come close to establishing ‘reasonable excuse’.”</p>
<p>The court heard police officers arrived at the Ecuadorian embassy in Knightsbridge at about 9.15am and were met by the ambassador.</p>
<p>“He indicated he was preparing to serve upon Mr Assange documentation revoking his asylum,” James Hines, representing the US government, said.</p>
<p>“Officers tried to introduce themselves to him in order to execute the arrest warrant before he barged past them, attempting to return to his private room.</p>
<p>“He was eventually arrested at 10.15am. He resisted that arrest, claiming ‘this is unlawful’ and he had to be restrained.</p>
<p>“Officers were struggling to handcuff him. They received assistance from other officers outside and he was handcuffed saying, ‘this is unlawful, I’m not leaving’.</p>
<p>“He was in fact lifted into the police van outside the embassy and taken to West End Central police station.”</p>
<figure id="attachment_129991" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-129991" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/D97145E2-6F8A-4732-BDC3-8C6F31BC72DF.jpeg"><img class="size-full wp-image-129991" src="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/D97145E2-6F8A-4732-BDC3-8C6F31BC72DF.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="338" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-129991" class="wp-caption-text">Julian Assange arrives at Westminster Magistrates&#8217; Court in London today.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Assange’s lawyer Liam Walker said the defence of reasonable excuse partly relied on his claims the Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot, who has previously dealt with the case, was biased against him.</p>
<p>He alleged her husband, Lord Arbuthnot, was directly impacted by the activities of WikiLeaks and Assange.</p>
<p>But the judge told Mr Walker it was “unacceptable” for him to air the claim in front of a “packed Press gallery”.</p>
<p>“This is grossly unfair and improper to do it just to ruin the reputation of a senior and able judge in front of the Press,” he said.</p>
<p>“He has chosen not to give evidence, he has chosen to make assertions about a senior judge not having the courage to place himself before the court for the purpose of cross-examination.</p>
<p>“Those assertions made through counsel are not evidence as a matter of law. I find they are not capable of amounting to a reasonable excuse.”</p>
<figure id="attachment_129993" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-129993" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/BF3E30CE-BB33-4F56-9572-ABE20514AFD0.jpeg"><img class="size-full wp-image-129993" src="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/BF3E30CE-BB33-4F56-9572-ABE20514AFD0.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="338" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-129993" class="wp-caption-text">Barrister Jennifer Robinson and WikiLeaks’ editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Speaking outside court, WikiLeaks’ editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said: “Anyone who wants the press to be free should consider the implications of this case.</p>
<p>“If they will extradite a journalist to the US then no journalist will be safe. This must stop. This must end.”</p>
<p><b>Update: </b>Julian Assange has pleaded not guilty to a charge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court that he failed to surrender to custody as required for an extradition order to Sweden.</p>
<p>Assange will not give evidence but his lawyer will argue he had a “reasonable excuse” for not surrendering to custody.</p>
<p>The court also heard the US has requested Assange’s extradition over an allegation that he conspired with intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to disclose documents.</p>
<p>Assange was told he is now accused under section six, not section seven, of the Bail Act and must re-enter his plea.</p>
<p>When asked if he still denied the charge, Assange replied: “I’m a bit curious as to why there’s been this sudden change”.</p>
<p>The judge explained: “The computer produced the wrong section.”</p>
<p>Video now available: Julian Assange arrives at court after almost seven-year stay in Ecuadorian embassy.</p>
<p><b>Update: Julian Assange appears at Westminster Magistrates’ Court following earlier arrest</b></p>
<p>Julian Assange has appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in front of District Judge Michael Snow following his earlier arrest at the Ecuadorian embassy in London.</p>
<figure id="attachment_129957" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-129957" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/E45EA650-EC20-4F63-8FCB-5ABE2A64C86D.jpeg"><img class="size-full wp-image-129957" src="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/E45EA650-EC20-4F63-8FCB-5ABE2A64C86D.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="338" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-129957" class="wp-caption-text">Julian Assange arrives at Westminster Magistrates&#8217; Court in London, after the WikiLeaks founder was arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police and taken into custody following the Ecuadorian government&#8217;s withdrawal of asylum</figcaption></figure>
<p>A packed public gallery and a full press bench watched as he walked into court wearing a black suit and polo shirt.</p>
<p>With grey hair tied into a ponytail and long beard, Assange saluted the public gallery before giving a thumbs up.</p>
<p><a href="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/1646AA01-1F59-4F6F-9146-FEE2768C1C2B.jpeg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-129944" src="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/1646AA01-1F59-4F6F-9146-FEE2768C1C2B.jpeg" alt="" width="1444" height="596" /></a></p>
<p>Members of the public were warned they would be in contempt of court if they recorded proceedings.</p>
<p>Assange sat calmly reading a Gore Vidal book as he waited for his lawyers to arrive in court.</p>
<p>Outside the court, five pro-Assange lawyers arrived carrying signs reading “Hands Off Assange” and “Free Press, Free Assange” ahead of Julian Assange’s court appearance.</p>
<p> ;</p>
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