WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s seven years in the Ecuadorean embassy

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was taken into custody in Central London by the British Police on April 11, where he had sought refuge for nearly seven years to avoid extradition to Sweden over a sexual assault investigation. (Reuters)

Assange was arrested from the Ecuador Embassy in London after the South American country withdrew the asylum granted to him. (Reuters)

Born in Queensland in Australia, the 47-year-old computer programmer made headlines globally in the year 2010, when WikiLeaks published confidential material about American military activity in Iraq and Afghanistan over the course of several months. (Stefan Wermuth/Pool Photo, File)

The leaks eventually turned into a major embarrassment for the Obama administration resulting in the launch of a criminal investigation again Assange.

Often seen as a hero who challenges censorship and advocates transparency by his supporters, Assange is also seen as a threat by others who claim he risked security by revealing secret documents. (AP)