Julian Assange marking first anniversary of release from prison

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.

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.

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.”