Julian Assange, founder of secrets website WikiLeaks, was released on bail in London Thursday evening.

Authorities had held the former hacker in Wandsworth prison since Dec. 7 when he was detained on sex assault charges.

"It's great to smell the fresh air of London again," he told reporters as he left the jail.

Assange thanked his supporters around the world, his lawyers and members of the press who were not "all taken in and considered to look deeper in their work."

He also thanked the British justice system. "If justice is not always an outcome, at least, it is not dead yet," he said.

"During my time in solitary confinement in the bottom of Victorian prison, I had time to reflect on the conditions of those people around the world who also are also in solitary confinement, also on remand in conditions more difficult that those faced by me," he told his supporters and members of the press.

"Those people also need your attention and support."

"And with that, I hope to continue my work and continue to protest my innocence in this matter and to reveal, as we get it, which we have not yet, the evidence from these allegations. Thank you," Assange concluded without taking any questions.