Julian Assange prompts ridicule with tweet about policeman 'making gun sign' at him (June 27, 2017)

Julian Assange prompts ridicule with tweet about policeman 'making gun sign' at him 

Photograph of a police officer making what Julian Assange claims was a gun sign outside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where the Wikileaks founder has been in hiding since 2012 
by Patrick Sawer, senior reporter, Daily Telegraph 
27 JUNE 2017 • 6:01PM 

There is a danger when you lock yourself away from the world for more than five years that you begin to lose your grip on reality. 

So it appears with Julian Assange, who appears to have become rather overheated by the sight of a policeman gnawing on his finger. 

Assange, the Wikileaks founder who took refuge inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in June 2012 rather than face questioning in Sweden over alleged sex offences, appeared to be under the impression the office was making a gun sign, possibly aimed at him in a threatening manner. 

The Australian-born campaigner - who claims he would eventually be extradited to the United States if he left the Embassy - wrote on his Twitter page: 

“At 13:48 yesterday police surveillance looks at me and makes a gun sign. Whether threatening to shoot me or shoot himself isn't clear.” 

Given that it appears fairly clear from the photograph that the policeman in question was simply bored and chewing his finger, the response was all-too predictable. 

“I think you may have been stuck in the embassy for too long, Julian,” said on Twitter user, with another chortling: “We must stop nail biters from terrifying recluses!” 

Wait, i've got this... pic.twitter.com/IkMCfByozr 

— Randomhal (@Randomhal) June 27, 2017 
Before long social media users began posting pictures of celebrities in similarly ‘threatening’ poses, such as John Travolta, in his classic finger in the air dance move from Saturday Night Fever, and David Miliband brandishing a dangerous looking banana. 

Someone else posted a video of the Spice Girls, with Victoria Beckham pointing her finger at the camera in an, erm, dangerous manner. 

Don’t worry Julian, everyone is right behind you. 

Or as one wag suggested, “why don’t you pop outside and ask him?”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/27/julian-assange-prompts-ridicule-tweet-policeman-making-gun-sign/