WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange pictured on August 21, 2015 with Reverend Jesse Jackson on a balcony at the Ecuadorian embassy in London Picture: PA/Yui Mok
Staff at the Ecuadorian embassy, where the WikiLeaks founder fled more than three years ago, drew up elaborate plans to help him escape
The embassy in London where Julian Assange has chosen to remain for more than three years considered getting rid of their long-term guest by helping him flee in fancy dress, it has emerged.
Leaked documents showed Ecuadorian diplomats were becoming increasingly concerned about Mr Assange’s behaviour and drew up a number of bizarre plans to allow him to leave the building without being arrested by waiting police officers.
Ecuador's foreign minister Ricardo Patino (left) with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in the embassy in August last year John Stillwell/PA
Mr Assange, founder of the WikiLeaks website, claimed asylum from Ecuador in June 2012 to avoid being extradited to avoid questioning over rape and sexual assault allegations in Sweden. He has not left the building since.
Mr Assange, founder of the WikiLeaks website, claimed asylum from Ecuador in June 2012 to avoid being extradited to avoid questioning over rape and sexual assault allegations in Sweden. He has not left the building since.
One option set out by diplomatic staff was to help Mr Assange make a rooftop flit to a nearby helipad.
Other proposals included dressing him in a disguise so he could walk unrecognised out of the building in Knightsbridge, west London, or dash out and becoming lost in crowds of shoppers at Harrods department store just yards away.
“Assange could leave in fancy dress or try a discreet exit,” said one document.
“He can try to reach a nearby helipad across the rooftops, or he could get lost among the people in Harrods.”
It was already known that police had anticipated another possible exit-strategy, of concealing Mr Assange in a diplomatic bag.
Police outside the embassy in Knightsbridge WILL OLIVER/AFP/Getty Images
The papers disclosed that was ruled out by embassy officials because Scotland Yard deployed body heat scanners outside the embassy.
The documents, reported by the Ecuadorian journalist Fernando Villavicencio and the Buzzfeed website, also showed how several incidents involving Mr Assange’s behaviour inside the embassy caused his hosts concern.
In September 2012 he was discovered in the security control room, which was off-limits, and was said to have been tampering with equipment.
The papers disclosed that was ruled out by embassy officials because Scotland Yard deployed body heat scanners outside the embassy.
The documents, reported by the Ecuadorian journalist Fernando Villavicencio and the Buzzfeed website, also showed how several incidents involving Mr Assange’s behaviour inside the embassy caused his hosts concern.
In September 2012 he was discovered in the security control room, which was off-limits, and was said to have been tampering with equipment.
Julian Assange addresses supporters and media from a balcony at the Ecuadorian embassy in London in August 2012 Julian Simmonds/The Telegraph
The papers were said to detail a security guard’s allegation that Mr Assange then punched over a computer screen and grabbed him by the shirt.
However, Mr Assange’s contradictory account blamed the security guard for accosting him.
It led to a meeting of embassy officials, who describe Mr Assange as “Mr Guest”, which set out how he should know his limits within the building.
In January 2013 another incident occurred in which a loud crash was heard from inside Mr Assange’s quarters in the embassy just after 6am.
A security guard asked the WikiLeaks chief if he was in difficulty, at which point Mr Assange took his laptop into a bathroom where he remained for some time.
The guard took photographs of a tall bookcase which was lying face-down in the room.
Mr Assange told embassy staff later that the bookcase had fallen over of its own accord.
The papers were said to detail a security guard’s allegation that Mr Assange then punched over a computer screen and grabbed him by the shirt.
However, Mr Assange’s contradictory account blamed the security guard for accosting him.
It led to a meeting of embassy officials, who describe Mr Assange as “Mr Guest”, which set out how he should know his limits within the building.
In January 2013 another incident occurred in which a loud crash was heard from inside Mr Assange’s quarters in the embassy just after 6am.
A security guard asked the WikiLeaks chief if he was in difficulty, at which point Mr Assange took his laptop into a bathroom where he remained for some time.
The guard took photographs of a tall bookcase which was lying face-down in the room.
Mr Assange told embassy staff later that the bookcase had fallen over of its own accord.
Julian Assange: wanted for questioning over rape allegations AP
The dossier of leaked information also revealed staff were concerned about Mr Assange’s “evident anger” and “feelings of superiority”.
It continued that his behaviour was causing stress to those around him, “especially the personnel who work in the embassy, mainly women”.
Amid concern for Mr Assange’s wellbeing, the documents said that officials in the building should “control access to alcohol”.
Mr Assange’s lawyers contends that if he was sent to Sweden he would subsequently be at risk of being extradited to the US, where he believes he would face political persecution for WikiLeaks’ disclosures of sensitive information.
Mr Assange, 44, was alleged to have raped a woman known as SW, then aged 26, and committed other sexual offences against AA, a 31-year-old woman.
The lesser sexual allegations have now lapsed because of the Swedish statute of limitations, or the maximum time within which criminal charges must be brought, but the rape allegation could see charges brought as late as 2020.
The bill for policing the embassy, in order to arrest Mr Assange if he emerges, has reached an estimated cost of up to £11 million.
A Scotland Yard spokesman refused to comment
The dossier of leaked information also revealed staff were concerned about Mr Assange’s “evident anger” and “feelings of superiority”.
It continued that his behaviour was causing stress to those around him, “especially the personnel who work in the embassy, mainly women”.
Amid concern for Mr Assange’s wellbeing, the documents said that officials in the building should “control access to alcohol”.
Mr Assange’s lawyers contends that if he was sent to Sweden he would subsequently be at risk of being extradited to the US, where he believes he would face political persecution for WikiLeaks’ disclosures of sensitive information.
Mr Assange, 44, was alleged to have raped a woman known as SW, then aged 26, and committed other sexual offences against AA, a 31-year-old woman.
The lesser sexual allegations have now lapsed because of the Swedish statute of limitations, or the maximum time within which criminal charges must be brought, but the rape allegation could see charges brought as late as 2020.
The bill for policing the embassy, in order to arrest Mr Assange if he emerges, has reached an estimated cost of up to £11 million.
A Scotland Yard spokesman refused to comment
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