Lawyers launch extradition

Lawyers for Julian Assange are launching what could be his final bid to avoid extradition to the US to face trial over leaking military secrets.

The two-day hearing at the High Court in London is due to hear his team argue he should be allowed a full appeal.

There is no guarantee that will be granted and if turned down, he could be handed over within weeks.

Supporters of the Wikileaks founder say he exposed wrongdoing but the US says Mr Assange put lives at risk.

Originally from Australia, Mr Assange’s mammoth legal battle began in 2010 when Wikileaks disclosed huge numbers of confidential military files from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – including footage showing a United States helicopter gunning down civilians in Baghdad.

He took refuge for seven years in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, before being arrested by the Metropolitan Police in 2019.

The US demanded his extradition from the UK that year, saying the disclosures endangered lives.