WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested in Londontoday on suspicion of rape on an arrest warrant issued by Swedish authorities, British police said.

Assange, 39, was detained after attending a London police station by appointment at 0930 GMT and is due to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates Court later in the day, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

"Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Extradition Unit have this morning, Tuesday 7 December, arrested Julian Assange on behalf of the Swedish authorities on suspicion of rape," the statement said.

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