WikiLeaks founder appears in London court for extradition hearing
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appeared in a London court on Monday for a hearing on whether he should be extradited to the United States to face spying charges.
Assange, cleanly shaved, dressed in a navy suit and light blue jumper, raised his fist to supporters in the public gallery.
Dozens gathered for a protest in front of Westminster Magistrates Court to express support for the activist, pictures and video posted on social media showed.
Assange, 48, faces 18 counts in the US including conspiring to hack government computers and violating an espionage law. He could spend decades in prison if convicted.
Julian Assange’s lawyer has accused the US of attempting to “kidnap and harm” the WikiLeaks founder, as he argued for a delay in his extradition.
He claimed the US had “intruded” on conversations between Assange and his lawyers while he was in the Ecuadorian embassy and the intrusions included “hooded men breaking into offices”.
