Swedish authorities have filed a request to detain WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange over a rape allegation.

If granted, it would be the first step in potentially extraditing him from the UK, where he is serving a 50-week sentence for skipping bail in 2012.

The case was reopened last week after authorities said there was "probable cause" of an offence.

"I request the district court to detain Assange in his absence, on probable cause suspected for rape," deputy chief prosecutor Eva-Marie Persson said in a statement on Monday.

She said a European arrest warrant would be issued if the court agrees.


The Australian was accused of rape and sexual assault against two women in 2010.

The statute of limitations on the assault accusation expired in 2015, while Assange sought protection in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, and the prosecutor dropped the investigation in 2017.

However, the rape allegation does not expire until August next year.

The Associated Press said the detention order states Assange is wanted for "intentionally having carried out an intercourse" with a woman "by unduly exploiting that she was in a helpless state because of sleep".

Assange skateboards in Ecuadorean embassy

It claims there was "an aggravating circumstance" because Assange did not use a condom.

Sweden and the US could now be set for a battle over his future.

Assange is wanted in America over allegedly conspiring with Chelsea Manning to hack into a Pentagon computer, leading to the release of hundreds of thousands of government documents - most notoriously relating to the Iraq War.

Experts believe the UK is likely to favour an extradition request from Sweden because the claims there are more serious.

The 47-year-old was hauled out of the Ecuadorian embassy last month after the country revoked his asylum. He had confined himself to the building since 2012.

Per E Samuelsen, Assange's lawyer, said last week it was "embarrassing for Sweden to reopen the investigation".

"He has always wanted to help solve this Swedish issue, his big predicament in life is that he risks being extradited to the United States because of his journalistic work," said Mr Samuelsen.

The WikiLeaks editor-in-chief said Assange had repeatedly offered to answer questions from Swedish authorities.

"The widespread media assertion that Assange 'evaded' Swedish questioning is false," said Kristinn Hrafnsson.

"This investigation has been dropped before and its reopening will give Julian a chance to clear his name."