Julian Assange news - live: WikiLeaks founder will not face ‘oppressive’ extradition to US, UK court rules

The family of Harry Dunn has accused the US of “hypocrisy” over its demand that Julian Assange be extradited when Anne Sacoolas, the American accused of being responsible for their son’s death, has not yet been forced to return to the UK.

Dunn died at the age of 19 in August 2019 after his motorbike crashed into a car being driven on the wrong side of the road by Mrs Sacoolas outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire.

The American was able to return to the US following the incident after the US Government asserted diplomatic immunity on her behalf, sparking outrage.

While an extradition request had been submitted by the Home Office, the US State Department refused to comply.

Reacting to news that a British judge had ruled against Assange’s extradition, Radd Seiger, a spokesman for the family of Harry Dunn, criticised the "imbalanced" extradition arrangements between the UK and the US.

 “Harry's parents' position is very simple. No one in Britain must be extradited until such time as Anne Sacoolas is extradited back to UK,” Mr Seiger said in a statement posted on Twitter.

"The Americans appear to think that they are free to snap their fingers and demand that anyone be sent to the USA for trial whilst simultaneously refusing to comply with their own obligations to see that their nationals are extradited to answer for their actions abroad.

“Such hypocrisy is there for all to see in the Anne Sacoolas and Julian Assange cases. The USA are also seeking extraditions of others from the UK,” he said.

Mr Seiger added: "Reciprocity is at the heart of extradition arrangements between nations and if one side is not going to live up to their obligations, the other must make it clear that it is not acceptable and that there will be consequences."

"We believe fundamentally in the importance of extradition and the pursuit of justice and it is to be hoped that the US Government soon changes its position on Mrs Sacoolas. It has to work both ways."

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has extended his congratulations to Julian Assange over the court ruling against his extradition to the US.

In a Facebook post, Mr Corbyn wrote: "Good news that the extradition of Julian Assange has been refused - my congratulations to him and his legal team.

“Extradition would be an attack on press freedom,” he said.

While Mr Corbyn celebrated the decision, he said: “It is alarming that the judge has accepted US government arguments threatening freedom of speech and freedom to publish.”

“There remains much at stake in his case, which is being observed by so many around the world,” he said, adding: "Assange should be released."

Julian Assange’s fiancée Stella Moris has called on President Donald Trump “end” the WikiLeaks founder’s suffering now by calling off the effort to extradite him to the US. 

“I call on the president of the United States to end this now,” she said, while addressing supporters outside the Old Bailey, following a decision against extraditing Assange.

“Mr President, tear down these prison walls. Let our little boys have their father. Free Julian, free the press, free us all," she said, according to PA.