Assange in jail, but embassy cables free

Published on 8 December 2010 at 11:43

Cover

“WikiLeaks vow cable releases will continue after Assange denied bail,” headlines the Guardian, the day after the WikiLeaks co-founder’s arrest and incarceration in London on 7 December. Nearly two weeks after the whistle-blowing site began the release of 250,000 US embassy cables, Assange, accused of rape in Sweden, spent the night in Wandsworth prison, the London daily reports. Despite the presence of luminaries such as film director Ken Loach offering to stand surety totalling £180,000 (€215,000) the judge argued that the Australian Assange's "weak community ties” in the UK, his "means and ability" to abscond, were substantial grounds for refusing bail. A spokesman for WikiLeaks declared, "This will not stifle WikiLeaks. The release of the US embassy cables – the biggest leak in history – will still continue. We will not be gagged, either by judicial action or corporate censorship."

Tags

Was this article useful? If so we are delighted!

It is freely available because we believe that the right to free and independent information is essential for democracy. But this right is not guaranteed forever, and independence comes at a cost. We need your support in order to continue publishing independent, multilingual news for all Europeans.

Discover our subscription offers and their exclusive benefits and become a member of our community now!

Are you a news organisation, a business, an association or a foundation? Check out our bespoke editorial and translation services.

Support independent European journalism

European democracy needs independent media. Join our community!

On the same topic