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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Julian Assange rape inquiry dropped but UK arrest still possible - live | Julian Assange rape inquiry dropped but UK arrest still possible - live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.17pm BST | |
| 12:17 | |
| The head of the Swedish bar association, Bengt Ivarsson, has told Svenska Dagbladet that the investigation into the rape allegations against Assange “did not move forward fast enough” and has “created a negative image of the prosecution service”: | |
| A government official has a responsibility to push an investigation forward. It has not happened in this case. Quite early on it was clear that Assange was not going to allow himself to be questioned in Sweden ... | |
| The investigation has had a major impact internationally. And how this has been handled is not an advantage for the Swedish legal system. It has created a negative image of the prosecution service. | |
| 12.12pm BST | |
| 12:12 | |
| This is the scene outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London where Assange has been living since taking refuge there in 2012. There’s not a huge amount happening at the moment ... | |
| 12.06pm BST | |
| 12:06 | |
| The British Home Office has said the decision to drop the investigation into Assange is “a matter for the Swedish authorities and not one which the UK government has had any involvement in”. | |
| It added that Britain had a legal obligation to execute the European arrest warrant and arrest Assange, and that the EAW had been upheld by the UK courts, including the supreme court, which at every stage had found his extradition to Sweden would be “entirely lawful”. | |
| The EAW will be formally withdrawn in the UK courts, it said. | |
| Updated | |
| at 12.18pm BST | |
| 11.59am BST | |
| 11:59 | |
| My colleague Matt Weaver says Peter Tatchell, one of Assange’s most prominent supporters, has given a guarded welcome to the decision, but said he still faces the risk of extradition to the US. Tatchell told BBC news: | |
| It is good news from Julian’s point of view. I’m not in a position to say whether the allegations against him were true or not. He has always denied them. He was never charged with any sexual offence, these are only at the level of allegations. So it is a relief that they are being no longer being pursued. But it is not entirely satisfactory because the Swedish prosecutors seemed to say that they case could be reopened if he at any point returned to Sweden. | |
| Before he could leave the embassy, Tatchell added, Assange would need to “consult his legal advisers and begin some dialogue with the Metropolitan police and if necessary the attorney general”. He added: | |
| Much more substantive is the risk if he stepped outside the embassy that he could face extradition to the United States. We know that there is an ongoing national security investigation into Julian Assange and Wikileaks. We believe that a secret grand jury has been empanelled ... US attorney general Jeff Sessions said arresting Assange was a priority. So he certainly is in danger of extradition to the US. | |
| 11.52am BST | 11.52am BST |
| 11:52 | 11:52 |
| Assange’s Swedish lawyer, Per E Samuelsson, has been talking to Swedish media. According to Svenska Dagbladet, he said Assange was “happy but laconic” and described the day as “a major victory for my client and myself”: | |
| This is one of the happiest days of my life as a lawyer. The decision is based on the fact that he was questioned in November 2016 and could provide a good explanation of what happened. In April this year, we had evidence that the US is chasing him. It seems completely unreasonable for Sweden to prevent him from obtaining political asylum. | This is one of the happiest days of my life as a lawyer. The decision is based on the fact that he was questioned in November 2016 and could provide a good explanation of what happened. In April this year, we had evidence that the US is chasing him. It seems completely unreasonable for Sweden to prevent him from obtaining political asylum. |
| The lawyer added that the case had been dropped because prosecutors approved Assange’s argument about what had happened when the alleged rape occurred: “This is obviously a case of consensual sex between two adults”. | The lawyer added that the case had been dropped because prosecutors approved Assange’s argument about what had happened when the alleged rape occurred: “This is obviously a case of consensual sex between two adults”. |
| With regard to the UK arrest warrant, under which Assange could still be arrested if he leaves the Ecuadorian embassy, he said he did “not know what Julian will decide to do now”. | With regard to the UK arrest warrant, under which Assange could still be arrested if he leaves the Ecuadorian embassy, he said he did “not know what Julian will decide to do now”. |
| Updated | |
| at 12.09pm BST | |
| 11.41am BST | 11.41am BST |
| 11:41 | 11:41 |
| A lawyer for Assange has welcomed the Swedish decision. Christophe Marchand, a member of Assange’s Brussels-based legal team, told AFP: | A lawyer for Assange has welcomed the Swedish decision. Christophe Marchand, a member of Assange’s Brussels-based legal team, told AFP: |
| We have been waiting a long time for this decision. Julian Assange has been a victim of a huge abuse of procedure. We are very pleased and very moved, as this marks the end of his nightmare. | We have been waiting a long time for this decision. Julian Assange has been a victim of a huge abuse of procedure. We are very pleased and very moved, as this marks the end of his nightmare. |
| 11.39am BST | 11.39am BST |
| 11:39 | 11:39 |
| WikiLeaks, the organisation Assange founded to “analyse and publish large datasets of censored or otherwise restricted official materials involving war, spying and corruption”, has said the ball is now in Britain’s court: | WikiLeaks, the organisation Assange founded to “analyse and publish large datasets of censored or otherwise restricted official materials involving war, spying and corruption”, has said the ball is now in Britain’s court: |
| UK states it will arrest Assange regardless & refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received an extradition request from the US. | UK states it will arrest Assange regardless & refuses to confirm or deny whether it has already received an extradition request from the US. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.42am BST | at 11.42am BST |
| 11.35am BST | 11.35am BST |
| 11:35 | 11:35 |
| Here are the key remarks from the chief prosecutor, Marianne Ny: | Here are the key remarks from the chief prosecutor, Marianne Ny: |
| In view of the fact that all prospects of pursuing the investigation under present circumstances are exhausted, it appears that it is no longer proportionate to maintain the arrest of Julian Assange in his absence. Consequently, there is no basis upon which to continue the investigation. | In view of the fact that all prospects of pursuing the investigation under present circumstances are exhausted, it appears that it is no longer proportionate to maintain the arrest of Julian Assange in his absence. Consequently, there is no basis upon which to continue the investigation. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.44am BST | at 11.44am BST |
| 11.34am BST | 11.34am BST |
| 11:34 | 11:34 |
| Swedish prosecutors have released a statement explaining the reasoning behind their unexpected decision to drop the case against Assange. | Swedish prosecutors have released a statement explaining the reasoning behind their unexpected decision to drop the case against Assange. |
| Here are the key paragraphs: | Here are the key paragraphs: |
| Almost five years ago Julian Assange was permitted refuge at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has resided ever since. In doing so, he has escaped all attempts by the Swedish and British authorities to execute the decision to surrender him to Sweden in accordance with the EU rules concerning the European arrest warrant. | Almost five years ago Julian Assange was permitted refuge at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has resided ever since. In doing so, he has escaped all attempts by the Swedish and British authorities to execute the decision to surrender him to Sweden in accordance with the EU rules concerning the European arrest warrant. |
| According to Swedish legislation, a criminal investigation is to be conducted as quickly as possible. At the point when a prosecutor has exhausted the possibilities to continue the investigation, the prosecutor is obliged to discontinue the investigation. | According to Swedish legislation, a criminal investigation is to be conducted as quickly as possible. At the point when a prosecutor has exhausted the possibilities to continue the investigation, the prosecutor is obliged to discontinue the investigation. |
| At this point, all possibilities to conduct the investigation are exhausted. In order to proceed with the case, Julian Assange would have to be formally notified of the criminal suspicions against him. We cannot expect to receive assistance from Ecuador regarding this. Therefore the investigation is discontinued. | At this point, all possibilities to conduct the investigation are exhausted. In order to proceed with the case, Julian Assange would have to be formally notified of the criminal suspicions against him. We cannot expect to receive assistance from Ecuador regarding this. Therefore the investigation is discontinued. |
| As a result of the decision to discontinue the investigation, the prosecutor has reversed the decision to detain him in his absence and withdrawn the EAW. | As a result of the decision to discontinue the investigation, the prosecutor has reversed the decision to detain him in his absence and withdrawn the EAW. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.45am BST | at 11.45am BST |
| 11.28am BST | 11.28am BST |
| 11:28 | 11:28 |
| The prosecutors say, however, that the investigation “could be reopened if Assange returns to Sweden before the statute of limitations ends in 2020”. | The prosecutors say, however, that the investigation “could be reopened if Assange returns to Sweden before the statute of limitations ends in 2020”. |
| A second allegation of sexual assault, made by a second Swedish woman, was dropped by Swedish authorities in 2015 after the statute of limitations expired. | A second allegation of sexual assault, made by a second Swedish woman, was dropped by Swedish authorities in 2015 after the statute of limitations expired. |
| 11.25am BST | 11.25am BST |
| 11:25 | 11:25 |
| The prosecutors are holding a press conference to explain their decision. | The prosecutors are holding a press conference to explain their decision. |
| The chief prosecutor, Marianne Ny, has said the rape case has been dropped essentially because there is no possibility of arresting Assange in the foreseeable future: | The chief prosecutor, Marianne Ny, has said the rape case has been dropped essentially because there is no possibility of arresting Assange in the foreseeable future: |
| The investigation into Julian Assange has been discontinued because there was no reason to believe that the decision to surrender him to Sweden can be executed in the foreseeable future. | The investigation into Julian Assange has been discontinued because there was no reason to believe that the decision to surrender him to Sweden can be executed in the foreseeable future. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.26am BST | at 11.26am BST |
| 11.17am BST | 11.17am BST |
| 11:17 | 11:17 |
| My colleague Vikram Dodd has more on the London police warning that Assange still faces arrest by Scotland Yard should he step out of the Ecuadorian embassy: | My colleague Vikram Dodd has more on the London police warning that Assange still faces arrest by Scotland Yard should he step out of the Ecuadorian embassy: |
| There is still an outstanding warrant – albeit for a much less serious offence – for Assange’s arrest, issued by Westminster magistrates court following him failing to surrender to the court on 29 June 2012. | There is still an outstanding warrant – albeit for a much less serious offence – for Assange’s arrest, issued by Westminster magistrates court following him failing to surrender to the court on 29 June 2012. |
| The Met has said it is ‘obliged to execute’ that warrant if Assange leaves the embassy, but added it would ‘provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence’. | The Met has said it is ‘obliged to execute’ that warrant if Assange leaves the embassy, but added it would ‘provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence’. |
| In October 2015, the Met ended the permanent presence of officers waiting to pounce should Assange emerge from the embassy. That decision came at a time when he was wanted for a much more serious offence relating to the alleged sexual assault in Sweden. | In October 2015, the Met ended the permanent presence of officers waiting to pounce should Assange emerge from the embassy. That decision came at a time when he was wanted for a much more serious offence relating to the alleged sexual assault in Sweden. |
| On Friday, the force said it would not comment further on its operational plan, adding its ‘priority must continue to be arresting those who are currently wanted in the capital in connection with serious violent or sexual offences for the protection of Londoners’. | On Friday, the force said it would not comment further on its operational plan, adding its ‘priority must continue to be arresting those who are currently wanted in the capital in connection with serious violent or sexual offences for the protection of Londoners’. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.46am BST | at 11.46am BST |
| 11.12am BST | 11.12am BST |
| 11:12 | 11:12 |
| My colleagues Peter Walker and Damien Gayle have a handy timeline of the near-seven-year standoff between Assange and the Swedish authorities that began when he was invited to address a seminar in Stockholm in August 2010 and reportedly had sex with two women who subsequently expressed concerns about the encounters. | My colleagues Peter Walker and Damien Gayle have a handy timeline of the near-seven-year standoff between Assange and the Swedish authorities that began when he was invited to address a seminar in Stockholm in August 2010 and reportedly had sex with two women who subsequently expressed concerns about the encounters. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.49am BST | at 11.49am BST |
| 11.05am BST | 11.05am BST |
| 11:05 | 11:05 |
| Assange posted a this picture on his personal Twitter account shortly after the Swedist prosecutor’s surprise announcement: | Assange posted a this picture on his personal Twitter account shortly after the Swedist prosecutor’s surprise announcement: |
| pic.twitter.com/dDvB1Vekhg | pic.twitter.com/dDvB1Vekhg |
| 11.00am BST | 11.00am BST |
| 11:00 | 11:00 |
| As my colleague Esther Addley notes in the Guardian’s initial news story on the surprise Swedish announcement, Assange has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 after losing court battles to avoid extradition to Sweden over the claims, which he has always denied. | As my colleague Esther Addley notes in the Guardian’s initial news story on the surprise Swedish announcement, Assange has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 after losing court battles to avoid extradition to Sweden over the claims, which he has always denied. |
| While the Stockholm decision potentially allows the 45-year-old Australian to leave the embassy, his lawyers have repeatedly said that he would not do so without assurances that he will not face extradition to the US over possible espionage charges, linked to Wikileaks’ publishing activities. | While the Stockholm decision potentially allows the 45-year-old Australian to leave the embassy, his lawyers have repeatedly said that he would not do so without assurances that he will not face extradition to the US over possible espionage charges, linked to Wikileaks’ publishing activities. |
| The Metropolitan police statement said a warrant for the arrest of Assange still stands following his failure to surrender to the court on 29 June 2012, adding the service “is obliged to execute the warrant should he leave the embassy”. | The Metropolitan police statement said a warrant for the arrest of Assange still stands following his failure to surrender to the court on 29 June 2012, adding the service “is obliged to execute the warrant should he leave the embassy”. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.03am BST | at 11.03am BST |
| 10.56am BST | 10.56am BST |
| 10:56 | 10:56 |
| Prosecutors in Sweden have said they are dropping a preliminary investigation into an allegation of rape against the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange. | Prosecutors in Sweden have said they are dropping a preliminary investigation into an allegation of rape against the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange. |
| More details are expected at a press conference later on Friday, but the country’s director of public prosecutions, Marianne Ny, said in a statement this morning she had “today decided to discontinue the investigation regarding suspected rape (lesser degree) by Julian Assange”. | More details are expected at a press conference later on Friday, but the country’s director of public prosecutions, Marianne Ny, said in a statement this morning she had “today decided to discontinue the investigation regarding suspected rape (lesser degree) by Julian Assange”. |
| Shortly after the Swedish announcement, the Metropolitan police in London issued a statement confirming a warrant for the arrest of Assange still stands following his failure to surrender to the court on 29 June 2012. | Shortly after the Swedish announcement, the Metropolitan police in London issued a statement confirming a warrant for the arrest of Assange still stands following his failure to surrender to the court on 29 June 2012. |
| We’ll bring you the latest developments as we get them. | We’ll bring you the latest developments as we get them. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.50am BST | at 11.50am BST |