Wikileaks editor arrested by UK police

Wikileaks editor Julian Assange has been arrested by police in London.

Assange was arrested on Tuesday morning, and now faces extradition proceedings to Sweden, a Metropolitan Police spokeswoman told ZDNet UK.

"[Assange] was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Extradition Unit at 9.30 by appointment at a London police station," said the spokeswoman.

Swedish authorities had issued a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) on suspicion of rape, said the spokeswoman. Assange was arrested on suspicion of one count of unlawful coercion, two counts of sexual molestation, and one count of rape. The offences allegedly occurred in August 2010.

Assange will appear before City of London Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday at the beginning of extradition proceedings.

Mark Stephens, Assange's lawyer, was not available for comment at the time of writing.