Julian Assange, the freedom of information campaigner who has embarrassed the US by leaking thousands of confidential diplomatic cables, was locked in a London cell on Tuesday night after being denied bail in connection with alleged sexual offences in Sweden.

Mr Assange, who founded the WikiLeaks website, was remanded in custody by a London court until December 14, after Sweden issued a warrant for his arrest over allegations of rape and sexual molestation.

WikiLeaks said Mr Assange’s detention would not prevent it from continuing to publish the cables, which have exposed the inner workings of US diplomacy. The whistle-blowing site’s leak has attracted condemnation from governments around the world but been praised by freedom of information campaigners.