WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been served with an extradition notice, the Met Police confirmed on Thursday.
Assange has been inside the Embassy of Ecuador in London since last week seeking political asylum as part of his bid to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning about alleged sex offences.
A Met police spokesperson said: "The MPS have this morning, Thursday 28 June served a upon a 40-year-old man that requires him to attend a police station at a date and time of our choosing. This is standard practice in extradition cases and is the first step in the removal process.
"He remains in breach of his bail conditions. Failing to surrender would be a further breach of conditions and he is liable to arrest."
It is understood that officers from the Metropolitan Police's extradition unit delivered a note to the embassy this morning saying Assange has to present himself to Belgravia police station at 11.30am on Friday morning.
Sources said a letter was also delivered for Assange.
The 40-year-old Australian is seeking political asylum in Ecuador to prevent him being extradited to Sweden and has been at the country's embassy in London since Tuesday.
Assange has been hiding out at the Ecuadorian Embassy since last Tuesday
Assange faces allegations of sex crimes in the Scandinavian country, which he denies.
In seeking asylum and staying in the Embassy, Assange violated the curfew on his bail agreement and now faces arrest if he leaves the Ecuadorian Embassy.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed in a statement that he was "beyond the reach of the police" while he remains in the building.
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