WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange was arrested in London Tuesday morning on suspicion of rape, Scotland Yard confirmed.

"Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Extradition Unit have this morning arrested Julian Assange on behalf of the Swedish authorities on suspicion of rape," the agnecy said in a statement.

Assange was arrested "by appointment" at a London police station at 9:30am local time. "He is accused by the Swedish authorities of one count of unlawful coercion, two counts of sexual molestation and one count of rape, all alleged to have been committed in August 2010," the police said.

Assange will appear today at City of Westminster Magistrates Court. The Web site justiceforassange.com is encouraging supporters to show up at the court for a silent protest with gags to symbolize censorship, copies of Time magazine (Assange is currently in the running for "Person of the Year"), and an Assange face mask.

In a Twitter message, WikiLeaks said "today's actions against our editor-in-chief Julian Assange won't affect our operations: we will release more cables tonight as normal."

In August, the Swedish courts issued an arrest warrant after indicting Assange of raping two women. However a judge threw out the ruling within the same week due to insufficient evidence. In November, however, Interpol issued a wanted notice for Assange on the same charges. Earlier this month, Swedish courts upheld the warrant, meaning Assange can be extradited.

Assange has repeatedly denied the charges. His lawyer, Mark Stephens, told the AP recently that the charges stem from "a dispute over consensual, but unprotected sex."

UPDATE: During his hearing, Assange was refused bail and ordered into custody until December 14, The Guardian reports. Assange also refused to consent to extradition to Sweden. In a tweeted response, WikiLeaks said it was "let down by the UK justice system's bizarre decision to refuse bail to Julian Assange. But #cablegate releases continue as planned."