Julian Assange faces US extradition after embassy arrest in …

Julian Assange is facing up to five years in a US prison after he was arrested and forcibly removed from the Ecuadorian embassy in London almost seven years after he sought refuge there.

The WikiLeaks founder was advised to "get over to the US" and "get on with your life" by a judge who also described him as a "selfish narcissist" as he appeared in court and was found guilty of breaching his bail.

The 47-year-old was arrested by Met Police officers this morning after Ecuador abruptly withdrew his asylum, and extraordinary footage showed Assange ranting and struggling as he was carried out to a waiting van.

Assange was already wanted for breaching his bail by failing to turn up to court in June 2012 when wanted for questioning over alleged sex crimes in Sweden, and he now faces an extradition request from the United States over Wikileaks publishing of classified documents.

The US Department of Justice said he could be facing up to five years in prison if convicted on the charges of conspiring to break into a classified government computer.

Assange's lawyer Jennifer Robinson said he would be fighting the extradition request. She said it set a "dangerous precedent" where any journalist could face US charges for "publishing truthful information about the United States".

Assange is seen in a police van after was arrested by British police outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London (Reuters)

Appearing in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court this afternoon, Assange claimed he had been treated unfairly in previous court hearings and accused Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot of bias in her previous handling of the case.

But after Assange opted not to give evidence in his own defence that he has a reasonable excuse for skipping bail, District Judge Michael Snow accused him in a scathing judgment of making shameful accusations while not having the courage to place himself before the court for the purpose of cross-examination.

Finding him guilty of breaching bail, the judge said: He has had throughout senior judges who have looked at his case with great care.

His assertion he hasnt had a fair hearing is laughable and Im afraid its the behaviour of a narcissist who cant get beyond his own selfish interests.

He hasnt got close to establishing he had a reasonable excuse and his behaviour through counsel is shameful.

I have no hesitation at all in finding Ms Assange guilty of the charge.

A police van outside the embassy on Thursday (PA)

He added that Assange now faces up to a year in prison when he is sentenced at Southwark Crown Court at a later date.

The court heard Assange shouted out This is unlawful, Im not leaving when the police arrived to arrest him this morning, rushing past officers towards his private room at the embassy and resisting arrest.

He was eventually handcuffed and manhandled out of the residence into the waiting police van.

Assange is wanted by the US over the publishing of classified documents and cables leaked by Chelsea Manning from the Pentagon and the State Department in 2010.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen after was arrested by British police outside Westminster Magistrates Court in London

Reuters

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in a police van after was arrested by British police outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London

Reuters

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in a police van after was arrested by British police outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London

Reuters

Julian Assange puts his fist in the air as he steps out to speak to the media from the balcony of the Embassy Of Ecuador

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Masked supporters of Julian Assange outside the Embassy of Ecuador in Knightsbridge

Dominic Lipinski/PA

Photographers hold cameras to the windows of a Serco prison van believed to be carrying WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

Reuters

ulian Assange's cat, is adorned with a tie and collar inside the window of the Ecuadorian Embassy

PA

Pamela Anderson delivers lunch to Julian Assange at Embassy of Ecuador

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Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is pictured through the heavily tinted windows of a police vehicle as he arrives at Westminster magistrates court in London

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Jemima Kahn leaves the City of Westminster Magistrates Court after offering to stand as surety for Julian Assange

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Julian Assange of the WikiLeaks website speaks to reporters in front of a Don McCullin Vietnam war photograph at The Front Line Club in London

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Wikileaks founder Julian Assange gestures inside a prison van with red windows as he arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice

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WikiLeaks website founder Julian Assange arrives at The High Court

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Julian Assange, founder of the WikiLeaks website, shakes the hand of a supporter as he leaves Trafalgar Square after addressing the crowd during the 'Antiwar Mass Assembly' organised by the Stop the War Coalition

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Journalist John Pilger and Julian Assange, founder of the WikiLeaks website, chat before addressing the crowd during the 'Antiwar Mass Assembly' organised by the Stop the War Coalition at Trafalgar Square

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Placards are left by supporters of Julian Assange, the founder of the WikiLeaks whistle-blowing website, outside the Ecuadorian Embassy

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Protesters gather outside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks is staying

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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with Reverend Jesse Jackson outside the Embassy of Ecuador in London

PA

People attend a video conference of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at the International Center for Advanced Communication Studies for Latin America (CIESPAL) auditorium in Quito

AFP/Getty Images

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange speaks to the media from a balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London

EPA

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange holds up his new kitten at the Ecuadorian Embassy in central London

WikiLeaks

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during a press conference from inside the Ecuadorian embassy

AP

Australian computer programmer Julian Assange speaks to the media from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London

EPA

Posters outside in support of Julian Assange outside the Ecuadorian Embassy on 26 January 2018

EPA

Supporters of Julian Assange outside Westminster Magistrates Court, London where a court decision is due on whether a UK arrest warrant against the WikiLeaks founder is still valid

PA

British hacker Lauri Love and his girlfriend Sylvia Mann are surrounded by media after visiting Wikileaks founder Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy in London on 6th February 2018

AFP/Getty Images

A cat named 'James' wearing a collar and tie yawns by the window of the Ecuadorian Embassy where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been for over five years on 6th February 2018

AFP/Getty Images

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen after was arrested by British police outside Westminster Magistrates Court in London

Reuters

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in a police van after was arrested by British police outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London

Reuters

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in a police van after was arrested by British police outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London

Reuters

Julian Assange puts his fist in the air as he steps out to speak to the media from the balcony of the Embassy Of Ecuador

Getty Images

Masked supporters of Julian Assange outside the Embassy of Ecuador in Knightsbridge

Dominic Lipinski/PA

Photographers hold cameras to the windows of a Serco prison van believed to be carrying WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

Reuters

ulian Assange's cat, is adorned with a tie and collar inside the window of the Ecuadorian Embassy

PA

Pamela Anderson delivers lunch to Julian Assange at Embassy of Ecuador

Getty Images

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is pictured through the heavily tinted windows of a police vehicle as he arrives at Westminster magistrates court in London

AFP/Getty Images

Jemima Kahn leaves the City of Westminster Magistrates Court after offering to stand as surety for Julian Assange

Getty Images

Julian Assange of the WikiLeaks website speaks to reporters in front of a Don McCullin Vietnam war photograph at The Front Line Club in London

Getty Images

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange gestures inside a prison van with red windows as he arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice

Getty Images

WikiLeaks website founder Julian Assange arrives at The High Court

Getty Images

Julian Assange, founder of the WikiLeaks website, shakes the hand of a supporter as he leaves Trafalgar Square after addressing the crowd during the 'Antiwar Mass Assembly' organised by the Stop the War Coalition

Getty Images

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Julian Assange faces US extradition after embassy arrest in ...