Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is in Great Britain and police there are waiting to be given the order to arrest him, the Independent reports.
Despite accusations that Julian Assange is on the run, The Independent has learnt that Scotland Yard has known his whereabouts for more than a month but has yet to receive official instructions to arrest him....[T]he 39-year-old Australian supplied the Metropolitan Police with contact details upon arriving in the UK in October. Police sources confirmed that they have a telephone number for Mr Assange and are fully aware of where he is staying.Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) has received the so-called "red notice" – an international arrest warrant – but has so far refused to authorise the arrest of Mr Assange, who is thought to be in South-east England. Until it does, police forces cannot act.
Earlier this week, Interpol issued an international arrest warrant for Assange, who is wanted in a sex assault investigation in Sweden. The investigation stems from allegations by two women who accuse Assange of sexual impropriety, something the WikiLeaks founder strongly denies.
Sweden issued, then dropped an arrest warrant against Assange in August, around the time that WikiLeaks released US documents related to Iraq. Another Swedish prosecutor then reopened the case.
Last week, ahead of the release of the State Department cables, a Swedish prosecutor ordered Assange be detained. Interpol issued an international arrest warrant on the basis of that order. No charges have been laid against Assange.
Assange, who says he had consensual sex with the two complainants, has said he believes the sex assault claims are an attempt to discredit him and his whistleblower website. He has speculated that the Pentagon may be behind the accusation.
He has also suggested that US lawmakers will attempt to criminalize his organization. US Attorney General Eric Holder said Monday the US is actively pursuing a criminal investigation of Assange, to see if he has broken any US laws. A Republican lawmaker has called on the US to declare WikiLeaks a "terrorist organization."
The Independent reports British police have delayed arresting Assange for "technical" reasons, suggesting an arrest will be imminent once concerns over the international warrant's details are worked out.
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