WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange was dragged out from the Ecuadorean embassy in London today by the Metropolitan Police after his asylum was withdrawn.

He was found guilty today of breaching bail from a British court and could face imprisonment in the United States.

Images of Ecuador's ambassador inviting the UK's secret police into the embassy to drag a publisher of--like it or not--award-winning journalism out of the building are going to end up in the history books. Assange's critics may cheer, but this is a dark moment for press freedom. https://t.co/ys1AIdh2FP

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) April 11, 2019

Mr Assange – who had not left the building in Knightsbridge for seven years – resisted as he was physically removed and put in a van by at least four officers in suits.

Ecuador’s President Lenin Moreno had withdrawn the Australian national’s embassy asylum.

Mr Assange pleaded not guilty to the 2012 charge of failing to surrender and his lawyer argued he had a “reasonable excuse” as he could never expect a fair trial in Britain since its purpose was to “secure his delivery” to the US.

Scotland Yard has confirmed that he was “further arrested on behalf of the US authorities” and is facing extradition to the US on charges of conspiring with now-imprisoned former US intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to break into a classified Pentagon computer.

Mr Assange was granted asylum in the embassy in 2012 under the 1951 Refugee Convention.

He avoided extradition to Sweden over an alleged sexual assault charge – which was later dropped by Swedish authorities.

Ecuador’s former president Rafael Correa tweeted to say current president Mr Moreno “is a corrupt man” and a “traitor.”

Allowing British police to enter the embassy is “a crime that humanity will never forget,” he added.

WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said: “Anyone who wants the press to be free should consider the implications of this case.

“If they will extradite a journalist to the US then no journalist will be safe. This must stop. This must end.”

Seamus Dooley, National Union of Journalists assistant general secretary, said the journalists’ union is “shocked” by the actions of the authorities.

He added: “The UK should not be acting on behalf of the Trump administration in this case … The manner in which Assange is treated will be of great significance to the practice of journalism.”

Whistleblower Edward Snowden said the images of Ecuador’s ambassador inviting the British police into the embassy to “drag a publisher of – like it or not – award-winning journalism out of the building are going to end up in the history books.”

He tweeted: “Assange’s critics may cheer, but this is a dark moment for press freedom.”

Labour shadow home secretary Diane Abbott tweeted: “We only need look at Chelsea Manning to see what awaits Assange. She's indefinitely detained for refusing to expose whistle-blowers. And US officials have already deemed Assange guilty.”

Mr Assange will next appear at magistrates’ court on May 2 by a prison video-link in relation to the extradition.