Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Alan Jones

Julian Assange marking first anniversary of release from prison

Julian Assange with his wife Stella and children, Gabriel and Max on a beach (Assange family/PA) - (PA Media)

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is marking the first anniversary of his release from prison.

His wife Stella said he is working on a project to slow the “rush” towards war.

In the early hours of June 24 last year Julian Assange was transported under custody in a high-security convoy from Belmarsh maximum security prison to Stansted Airport.

Julian Assange was released from Belmarsh prison on June 24, 2024 (Assange family/PA) (PA Media)

He had been imprisoned in Belmarsh for more than five years and was detained in the UK for 14 years.

He flew on an Australian government jet under formal custody to US federal court in the tiny US overseas territory of Saipan in the Pacific Ocean, refuelling in Bangkok.

On June 26, a plea hearing in Saipan formally secured his release, conditional on him immediately leaving the territory.

Later that day he landed in his home country of Australia where he was reunited with his family.

Julian Assange spent five years, largely in solitary confinement, fighting extradition (Assange family/PA) (PA Media)

Mrs Assange said: “We were in Europe for the opening of The Six Billion Dollar Man at Cannes, Pope Francis’s funeral, and to try to understand where things are heading — politically and technologically.

“Julian has been working on something for several months now, and I hope it can help slow the rush toward war.

“Three hundred and sixty-five days have passed, but we are light years away from Belmarsh prison.

“To all the supporters who helped make this possible, there are no words to express how grateful we are to have Julian free.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.