Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange has been arrested after seven years in Ecuador's embassy in London, UK police say.
Julian Assange. Photo: AFP
Mr Assange took refuge in the embassy seven years ago to avoid extradition to Sweden over a sexual assault case that has since been dropped.
The Met Police said he was arrested for failing to surrender to the court.
Ecuador's president Lenin Moreno said it withdrew Mr Assange's asylum after his repeated violations of international conventions.
But Wikileaks tweeted that Ecuador had acted illegally in terminating Mr Assange's political asylum "in violation of international law".
Home Secretary Sajid Javid tweeted: "I can confirm Julian Assange is now in police custody and rightly facing justice in the UK."
Mr Assange, 47, had refused to leave the embassy, claiming if he did he would be extradited to the United States for questioning over the activities of Wikileaks.
Scotland Yard said it was invited into the embassy by the ambassador, following the Ecuadorian government's withdrawal of asylum.
Mr Assange would remain in custody at a central London police station, before appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court "as soon as is possible", the statement added.
Ecuador 'reached its limit'
The Ecuadorean president said the country had "reached its limit on the behaviour of Mr Assange" after he intervened in the internal affairs of other states.
Mr Moreno said: "The most recent incident occurred in January 2019, when WikiLeaks leaked Vatican documents.
"This and other publications have confirmed the world's suspicion that Mr Assange is still linked to WikiLeaks and therefore involved in interfering in internal affairs of other states."
It comes a day after Wikileaks said it had uncovered an extensive spying operation against its co-founder at the Ecuadorean embassy.
There has been a long-running dispute between the Ecuadorean authorities and Mr Assange about what he was and was not allowed to do in the embassy.
BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale said that over the years they have removed his access to the internet and accused him of engaging in political activities - which is not allowed when claiming asylum.
He said: "Precisely what has happened in the embassy is not clear - there has been claim and counter claim."
Mr Assange will initially face UK legal proceedings but could be extradited to the US over the Wikileaks revelations, he added.
UK foreign minister Sir Alan Duncan said the arrest followed "extensive dialogue between our two countries".
After the arrest, UK foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt tweeted that Mr Assange was no hero, and no one was above the law.
Timeline: Julian Assange saga
In this file photo taken on May 19, 2017 Wikileaks founder Julian Assange raises his fist prior to addressing the media Photo: AFP
August 2010 - The Swedish Prosecutor's Office first issues an arrest warrant for Mr Assange. It says there are two separate allegations - one of rape and one of molestation. Mr Assange says the claims are "without basis"
December 2010 - Mr Assange is arrested in London and bailed at the second attempt
May 2012 - The UK's Supreme Court rules he should be extradited to Sweden to face questioning over the allegations
June 2012 - Mr Assange enters the Ecuadorean embassy in London
August 2012 - Ecuador grants asylum to Mr Assange, saying there are fears his human rights might be violated if he is extradited
August 2015 - Swedish prosecutors drop their investigation into two allegations - one of sexual molestation and one of unlawful coercion because they have run out of time to question him. But he still faces the more serious accusation of rape.
October 2015 - Metropolitan Police announces that officers will no longer be stationed outside the Ecuadorean embassy
February 2016 - A UN panel rules that Mr Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by UK and Swedish authorities since 2010
May 2017 - Sweden's director of public prosecutions announces that the rape investigation into Mr Assange is being dropped
July 2018 - The UK and Ecuador confirm they are holding ongoing talks over the fate of Mr Assange
October 2018 - Mr Assange is given a set of house rules at the Ecuadorean embassy in London. He then launches legal action against the government of Ecuador
December 2018 - Mr Assange's lawyer rejects an agreement announced by Ecuador's president to see him leave the Ecuadorean embassy
February 2019 - Australia grants Mr Assange a new passport amid fears Ecuador may bring his asylum to an end
April 2019 - The Metropolitan Police arrests him for "failing to surrender to the court" over a warrant issued in 2012
- BBC