Scores of protestors have pitched up outside Belmarsh Magistrates' Court today (February 24) as Julian Assange's full extradition hearing gets underway in Woolwich.

Police have been called in to moderate the protestors, some of whom have pitched up tents nearby for the week-long hearing which finally gets underway today under worldwide scrutiny.

Assange has been held on remand in high security Belmarsh Prison since last September and is wanted in the US on 18 charges, accused of working with former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to leak hundreds of thousands of classified documents.

The 48-year-old could face a 175-year prison sentence if found guilty, and as the court proceedings got underway today his supporter's voices were so loud they could be heard in the courtroom.

News Shopper:

More than 30 politicians from across Europe are set to attend during the week as part of "unprecedented levels of international scrutiny" on a UK case, with senior members from Belgium, Germany, and Spain to attend Woolwich Crown Court.

News Shopper:

Assange's father John Shipton told press his son had been "harassed" by a prison cell search the day before the start of his court battle, and musician Roger Waters, Mr Varoufakis and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood have also given speeches in support of Assange today.

The hearing is currently ongoing:

Opening the extradition hearing, James Lewis QC, said Assange is guilty of "ordinary criminality" by stealing from and hacking into US government computers.

He told District Judge Vanessa Baraitser that Assange, 48, is not charged with publishing "embarrassing" information the US would rather was not disclosed.

He told Woolwich Crown Court, which is sitting as a magistrates' court, the US identified hundreds of "at risk and potentially at risk people" around the world and made efforts to warn them.

News Shopper:

The case is currently ongoing