
Julian Assange lectured Britain on human rights last night while showing no sign of leaving his embassy bolthole.

‘I do not forgive or forget,’ he said, blaming everyone but himself for his five years of self-imposed detention.

The 45-year-old WikiLeaks chief has been free to leave his Knightsbridge sanctuary at any time and yesterday Sweden withdrew a warrant for his arrest on a rape allegation.

Elisabeth Fritz, who represents Assange’s accuser, said the woman was shocked by the decision and stood by her claims. ‘It is a scandal that a suspected rapist can disregard the judiciary and thus avoid trial,’ she added.

The £13million farce is set to carry on because the US wants Assange for leaking secrets.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has made his first public appearance since Sweden dropped its rape probe against him earlier today

The 45-year-old Wikileaks emerged onto the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy where he has been under house arrest for five years

In a display of astonishing arrogance, Assange emerged from the Ecuadorean embassy in London yesterday, posing on its balcony for photographs with his fist raised in a victory salute.

The pale-looking Australian computer hacker gravely claimed to be the victim of a ‘terrible injustice’.

He said the Swedish decision was a victory for human rights and attacked the British government for threatening to enforce the now withdrawn extradition request.

‘It does not erase seven years of detention without charge in prison, under house arrest and almost five years here in this embassy without sunlight,’ he said.

‘Seven years without charge while my children grow up without me. That is something that I cannot forgive and something that I cannot forget.’

'The war is just commencing,' Assange said during a rare appearance on the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy. 'The UK has said it will arrest me regardless. The US has said I and other Wikileaks staff have no rights and our arrest is a priority'

Assange's appearance on the balcony of the central London building came hours after Sweden's Director of Public Prosecutions discontinued the sexual assault allegations against him

The day of drama began when Sweden’s top prosecutor said an investigation into allegations that Assange raped a woman during a visit in 2010 had been ‘discontinued’.

Marianne Ny told a press conference that it was effectively a lost cause because there was no way of getting Assange to properly answer questions.

She said since there was no prospect of bringing Assange to Sweden it was ‘no longer proportionate’ to maintain a European arrest warrant.

The Metropolitan Police said it would still arrest Assange under a warrant issued for breaching bail when he fled to the embassy in 2012.

Julian Assange posted this picture of himself in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London today moments after Sweden dropped an investigation in to rape allegations

This afternoon Assange tweeted: 'Detained for 7 years without charge while my children grew up and my name was slandered. I do not forgive or forget'

A police officer walks past the Ecuadorian embassy in London this morning as it emerged that Sweden had dropped its investigation into Julian Assange

ASSANGE RAILS AGAINST UNFAIR LEGAL SYSTEMS WHICH STOPPED HIM SEEING SUNLIGHT FOR FIVE YEARS Julian Assange today declared a victory for Chelsea Manning, the transgender soldier convicted of giving classified government materials to WikiLeaks. Addressing supporters and journalists huddled under the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy, he hailed her release from prison '28 years early' as an 'important victory'. Referring to the former American soldier as 'he', Assange said: 'After an extensive fight, we had him released 28 years early.' The Wikileaks founder also launched a scathing attack on the system which allowed him to be 'imprisoned' and held under house arrest without charge. He branded his situation as a 'terrible injustice', adding: 'Detention and extradition without charge has become a feature of the EU. 'That is not how we expect a civilised state to behave. Similarly, extradition without charge is not something we expect in the rule of law in the UK. He thanked the United Nations, referring to it as 'a last resort we all have when we are bound up... in the particular politics of a country'. He also thanked the people of Ecuador and its asylum system for standing by him 'despite intense pressure' including the use of the 'EU trade system to penalise Ecuadorian exporters in a terrible violation'. In an apparent attack on the UK and US, he continued: 'The war is just commencing. 'The UK has said it will arrest me regardless. The US... has said I and other Wikileaks staff have no rights and our arrest is a priority. 'That's not acceptable. Wikileaks will continue its publications. Today we published new material from a CIA system to penetrate and spy on anyone the CIA happens to be interested in. 'Such measures are conducted without warrant and the threats to me, staff and wiki will not be tolerated.'


He had spent two years in prison or under house arrest as he took his battle against extradition to the High Court.

A police spokesman said the Met was obliged to execute the warrant but pointed out that Assange was wanted for a ‘much less serious offence’.

‘The Metropolitan Police will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence,’ added the spokesman.

Although the penalty for the bail offence might only be a fine or a day in the cells, the arrest would allow the US authorities to serve extradition papers.

This would prevent Assange being able to travel to Ecuador where he has been granted political asylum.

The dramatic decision was revealed by Sweden 's Director of Public Prosecution, Marianne Ny (pictured today), who said the probe had been 'discontinued'

The 45-year-old Australian has been living inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London (pictured today) for almost five years and has been granted political asylum

ASSANGE: SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Why was Julian Assange wanted by Sweden? Sweden issued an arrest warrant for Mr Assange over rape allegations relating to 2010. The accusation against Assange dated from August of that year when the alleged victim, who says she met him at a WikiLeaks conference in Stockholm a few days earlier, filed a complaint. She accused him of having sex with her as she slept without using a condom despite repeatedly having denied him unprotected sex. He has always denied the claims. Why did he go to the Ecuadorian Embassy in London? The 45-year-old has been living in the embassy in London since 2012, after seeking asylum to avoid extradition to Sweden to face the rape allegation. He feared the claims would see him extradited to the United States and tried over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents. Ecuador's Foreign Minster Ricardo Patino said Mr Assange's human rights would be at risk if he were extradited. The 45-year-old has been living in the embassy in London since 2012, after seeking asylum to avoid extradition to Sweden to face the rape allegation Why has Sweden dropped the charges? Swedish prosecutors dropped cases of alleged sexual misconduct when the statute of limitations ran out in 2015, leaving only the rape allegation. Marianne Ny, the Swedish director of public prosecutions announced Friday that she was dropping the rape case because there is no prospect of bringing Assange to Sweden 'in the foreseeable future' and it is 'no longer proportionate' to maintain the European arrest warrant. She told a news conference in Stockholm that the investigation could be reopened if Assange returns to Sweden before the statute of limitations lapses in 2020. Ny said the case was not being dropped because Assange has been found innocent. Assange feared the claims would see him extradited to the United States and tried over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents 'We don't make any statement of guilty or not,' she said. Are there other charges against Assange? That's unclear. Assange suspects there is a secret U.S. indictment against him for WikiLeaks' publication of leaked classified American documents. CIA Director Mike Pompeo has branded WikiLeaks a 'hostile intelligence service,' and Attorney General Jeff Sessions said last month that Assange's arrest is a priority. Both U.S. and British officials have declined to comment on whether there is a warrant for Assange's arrest. Does Sweden's action make Assange safer? Some legal experts say it makes his position less secure. Until Friday, Britain was bound to honour Sweden's extradition request before any warrant from the United States. That is no longer the case. Lawyer David Allen Green, who has followed the case, tweeted: 'Once outside embassy, Assange more at risk from any U.S. extradition attempt than if he had gone to Sweden.' Assange could fight any U.S. extradition request in the British courts, a process that could take years. Advertisement

Q&A Now the rape probe is over, will he leave the Ecuadorean embassy? Assange is very unlikely to without a formal assurance that he will not be arrested, either in the street or at a border. He said his ‘legal team’ have contacted the UK authorities to find the ‘best way forward’. What is his lifestyle? Assange complains about ‘living without sunlight’. He has made a comfortable albeit cramped home at 3 Hans Crescent near Harrods in central London. His 194 sq ft room has a bed, computer, sun lamp, treadmill and a microwave, and he has a cat. Pamela Anderson is a regular visitor. What will happen if he simply walks out? Scotland Yard insists he still faces arrest for breaching bail when he fled to the embassy in 2012. A bench warrant was issued by local magistrates and remains valid. What is the penalty? Breaching bail is a low level offence and may only lead to a fine but has a maximum sentence of one year in jail. However, the process will give the US a chance to serve extradition papers and demand he is remanded in custody as a flight risk or potential absconder. Why DOES the US want to put Assange on trial? He is accused of leaking tens of thousands of US military and diplomatic documents. Charges could include conspiracy, theft of government property and violations of the Espionage Act. The source for that material was army private Chelsea Manning, then Bradley, who was jailed for 35 years. This was commuted after seven years by Barack Obama and she was released this week. President Trump supports Assange’s arrest. It is possible a sealed indictment has already been drawn up. The US justice department, White House and British government all declined to comment yesterday. What are his chances of getting to Ecuador? Once the bail offence has been dealt with, it might still be possible for Assange to go to Ecuador. The country’s foreign minister, Guillaume Long, says London ‘must now grant safe passage’ in accordance with international asylum laws. Advertisement

The Trump administration has taken a tough line on WikiLeaks, which some suspect of being in league with Russian hackers. CIA director Mike Pompeo says it is a ‘hostile intelligence service’.

Attorney general Jeff Sessions said Assange’s arrest was one of his priorities.

Scotland Yard has already been lambasted for spending more than £12.5million on a security operation around the Ecuadorean embassy.

This high-profile watch was abandoned in October 2015 in favour of more low profile and cheaper methods, believed to involve CCTV monitoring.

But the cost of the stand-off continues to rise because of the police operation and legal and diplomatic negotiations.

Ecuadorian ambassador to Britain, Carlos Antonio Abad Ortiz arrives at his Embassy this morning

WHAT NEXT FOR THE WIKILEAKS FOUNDER? Prison time in Britain? Extradition to the United States? Another five years in Ecuador's London embassy? WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's future could now follow many different paths. Swedish prosecutors on Friday said they were dropping a rape investigation against Assange because there was no reason to believe he would be brought to Sweden in the foreseeable future. He claimed asylum with Ecuador in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden - and, he feared, from there on to the United States, to face trial for leaking secret US military and diplomatic documents. The Australian former computer hacker has been holed up inside the Ecuadoran embassy ever since. If he leaves the embassy, he faces arrest by the British police for jumping bail. Having broken his bail conditions before, it is unlikely he would be trusted with bail again and would be detained in a secure prison while the case against him progresses. Here are the main possible scenarios: Fine - Assange goes quickly through the British courts process and is given a minor fine. He is then free to go about his business and resume his WikiLeaks work more directly and publicly. Jail term - The maximum punishment for skipping bail in Britain is one year in jail. However long the courts process against him takes, time served while in custody would be deducted. In theory he could therefore be sentenced to a prison term and then immediately walk free. Investigators had today been expected to reveal whether they would lift a Europe-wide arrest warrant against him in a seven-year-old case Extradition to the United States - US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said last month that 'we will seek to put some people in jail' when asked if arresting Assange was a 'priority' for Washington. Prosecutors have been drafting a memo that looks at charges against Assange and WikiLeaks members that possibly include conspiracy, theft of government property and violations of the Espionage Act, according to the Washington Post newspaper. US President Donald Trump's administration has put heat on WikiLeaks after it embarrassed the Central Intelligence Agency in March by releasing files and computer code from the spy agency's top-secret hacking operations. Extradition to Sweden - David Allen Green, a law commentator for the Financial Times newspaper, suggested that if Assange left the embassy and was arrested, Sweden could resume its case. He said the case being dropped was 'an administrative decision to stop expending resources' where there was 'no clear path to extradition'. 'If Assange went into British custody then the Swedes may well revisit their decision on proportionality, as extradition suddenly easier,' he tweeted. And Sweden does remain interested in the case: Marianne Ny, their director of public prosecutions, said the investigation could be reopened if Assange returns to Sweden before August 2020 when the allegations against him elapse under Swedish law. Safe passage to Ecuador - Quito has said it is planning to intensify diplomatic efforts with London so that Assange can gain safe passage to enjoy his asylum in Ecuador, the Press Association news agency reported. This possibility might only take place once the English legal system has finished with him for jumping bail. Stay put - Assange stays right where he is, in the red-brick flat at 3 Hans Crescent, continuing his work with WikiLeaks. His room, which measures 194 square feet, has a bed, computer, sun lamp, treadmill and a microwave, and he has a cat for company. Advertisement

Moments after the Swedish decision, Assange tweeted a picture of himself smiling. It was immediately endorsed by actress Pamela Anderson, a close friend and frequent visitor.

More than 200 journalists, as well as a handful of supporters, gathered outside the embassy, which is close to Harrods.

During his seven-minute ‘sermon’, in which he was heckled by a drunk, Assange labelled himself the victim of ‘geopolitics between different countries’.

‘Today is an important victory, for me, and for the United Nations human rights system,’ he claimed.

The focus will now move to the governments of the UK and the US and whether Assange will fly to Ecuador to avoid extradition to America

WILL TRUMP ASK THE UK TO EXTRADITE JULIAN ASSANGE OR LET HIM SLIP AWAY? The White House and the Justice Department have remained tight-lipped after Swedish authorities announced the decision to drop their investigation into Julian Assange. The Trump administration's Justice Department has not confirmed whether it will seek the WikiLeaks founders extradition, or charge him, over the United States diplomatic cables leak in 2010. However, President Trump has made a number of emotional announcements about Assange, and leakers in general, through his Twitter account. 'It's OK with me,' President Trump said, when asked about the Justice Department potentially charging Assange If the U.S. attempts to extradite Mr Assange, the administration would be engaged in a huge effort to try a fugitive who Trump hailed during his campaign trail. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has stated that charging Assange is a priority for the Justice Department. President Trump replied: 'It's OK with me', when asked about the Justice Department potentially charging Assange. However, the President's own statements defending the WikiLeaks founder could complicate any legal action. President Trump has defended Julian Assange on Twitter Trump tweeted in January, just days before he took office: 'Julian Assange said 'a 14 year old could have hacked Podesta ' – why was DNC so careless? Also said Russians did not give him the info! '. He was referencing the hack on Hillary Clinton campaign chair John Podesta's emails, which U.S. intelligence said was carried out by the Russians before being published by WikiLeaks. After Assange appeared on 'Hannity' on Fox News in January, Trump tweeted: '@FoxNews: Julian Assange on U.S. media coverage: "It's very dishonest." #Hannity "More dishonest than anyone knows." Advertisement

Criticising the European arrest warrant system, he added: ‘The UK government changed the law to prevent further extradition without charge from the UK.

‘But it is still a problem for the rest of the European Union. I would like to thank the UN, particularly its human rights organisation. Today is an important victory and important vindication the road is far from over.

‘The war, the proper war is just commencing as the UK has said it will arrest me regardless.’

James Berry, a Tory parliamentary candidate, said the situation was ridiculous.

Moments after this morning's decision, he tweeted a picture of himself smiling. It was immediately retweeted by actress Pamela Anderson who has visited him at the embassy several times (pictured, in October)

Sweden has decided to drop its investigation in to rape allegations made against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, it has emerged

‘It is unbelievable Julian Assange is still a drain on the British taxpayer,’ he added. ‘Huge amounts of money have been spent and he still refuses to surrender to British law enforcement.

'He is still wanted for breach of bail and he should do the decent thing and hand himself in and bring this whole thing to an end.’

Miss Fritz said: ‘Proof of evidence in the case is available and that evidence should have been tried in court.’ Assange had initially faced four sex charges relating to two women.