Advertisement

Julian Assange: WikiLeaks founder's life in Ecuadorian embassy captured on security camera

Julian Assange is seen skateboarding in the Ecuadorian embassy in newly-released footage which reveals his deteriorating relations with staff in the building.

The WikiLeaks founder was holed up in the embassy in London for more than seven years before he was arrested on Thursday.

Security footage, obtained by the Spanish newspaper El Pais, has shown Assange in his living quarters and captured a furious row between the Australian and a security guard.

At one point, Assange, 47, is seen dressed in a vest and shorts while he tries to ride a skateboard.

Assange is also seen clashing with a guard as he holds a meeting with visitors who allegedly refused to leave.

The footage shows him pointing a camera at the guard, who then tries to snatch it away.

Assange's guests left after the ambassador reportedly arrived in the early hours of the morning.

It comes after Assange's lawyer accused Ecuador of making "outrageous" claims about his actions in their London embassy.

Jennifer Robinson told Sky News that claims about her client's behaviour - including that he had smeared walls with faeces - were fabricated as a pretext to force him out.

Ecuador has claimed Assange had to be reminded to flush the toilet, left dirty underwear in the lavatory, did not clean dishes and left the cooker on.

Ms Robinson said: "Ecuador has made these allegations to justify the unlawful and extraordinary act of letting police come inside an embassy.

"I've been visiting him for the last seven years. This man has been inside a room with no outside access.

"Inside the embassy it's become more difficult. The politics changed when Ecuador's political situation changed with a new leader."

Ecuador's president has accused Assange of trying to create a "centre for spying" at the embassy and said the nation's previous government had provided facilities within the building to "interfere in processes of other states".

In an interview with The Guardian, Lenin Moreno said the Wikileaks founder's activities "violate asylum conditions" and added: "Our decision is not arbitrary but is based on international law".

He also said no other country influenced Ecuador's decision to withdraw Assange's asylum, claiming it had followed a series of violations by the self-proclaimed journalist.

Assange faces up to 12 months in prison after being found guilty of breaching his bail conditions when he entered the Ecuadorian embassy in 2012.

He made the move after losing his battle against extradition to Sweden where he faced allegations including rape.

Assange is now expected to fight extradition to the US over an allegation that he conspired with former army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to break into a classified government computer.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has joined Assange's supporters in saying he should be protected against extradition to the US because he exposed evidence of "atrocities" in Iraq and Afghanistan.

More than 70 MPs have also urged the government to ensure Assange faces Swedish authorities if they request his extradition.