Radiation tests after spy death

11/24/2006

BBC London
November 24, 2006


Radiation briefing

Police and health experts probing the death of the Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko are searching various locations for radioactive material.

Mr Litvinenko’s death, in a London hospital on Thursday, has been linked to the presence of a “major dose” of radioactive polonium-210 in his body.

Tests have been carried out at two hospitals, a sushi bar and a hotel, but the risk to others is said to be low.

The Kremlin has denied Mr Litvinenko’s claims that it was involved.

Police have confirmed above normal traces of radiation have been found at the sushi bar.

Professor Pat Troop from the Health Protection Agency told a news conference Mr Litvinenko would have had to either eaten, inhaled or been given the dose of polonium-210 through a wound.

She said the type of death was an “unprecedented event in the UK”.

‘No radiation risk’ to public

Dr Troop said the HPA investigation would initially look at the number of people who had come into contact with Mr Litvinenko during his stay in hospital.

“We are working with staff to draw up a list, we are working through that,” she said.

“There will be a minimum of tens of people. He was in hospital for several weeks and a number of staff looked after him.”

As the conference drew to a close, a heckler interrupted saying he was from Ukraine and had also been the victim of poisoning.

A post mortem examination on Mr Litvinenko has not been held yet.

The delay is believed to be over concerns about the health implications for those present at the examination.

Medical experts had previously expressed differing opinions over substances that could have possibly led to his death.

Initial reports that he was given the heavy metal thallium gave way to other theories including radiation poisoning.

Meanwhile, the government’s civil contingencies committee Cobra has met to discuss the case.

The Home Office said anybody concerned should contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647, who have been briefed about this issue.

‘Sheer nonsense’

Friends have said Mr Litvinenko was poisoned because of his criticism of Russia.

Police searches are taking place at Mr Litvinenko’s house in north London and other places he has been.

In a statement dictated before he died, the 43-year-old accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of involvement in his death.

Mr Litvinenko had recently been investigating the murder of his friend, Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, another critic of the Putin government.

Mr Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated the Kremlin’s earlier dismissal of allegations of involvement in the poisoning as “sheer nonsense”.

Mr Putin himself has said Mr Litvinenko’s death was a tragedy, but he saw no “definitive proof” it was a “violent death”.

Meetings probed

Police have been examining two meetings Mr Litvinenko had on 1 November - one at a London hotel with a former KGB agent and another man, and a rendezvous with Italian security consultant Mario Scaramella, at a sushi restaurant in London’s West End.

Mr Litvinenko, who was granted asylum in the UK in 2000 after complaining of persecution in Russia, fell ill later that day.

In an interview with Friday’s Telegraph newspaper, former KGB bodyguard Andrei Lugovoi said he had met Mr Litvinenko at the Millennium Hotel in Grosvenor Square but vigorously denied any involvement in the poisoning.

Mr Scaramella, who is involved in an Italian parliamentary inquiry into Russian secret service activity, said they met because he wanted to discuss an e-mail he had received.

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POLONIUM-210

a highly radioactive and toxic element present in foods in low doses; small amounts created naturally in the body;
can be manufactured using the bombardment of neutrons; has industrial uses such as in anti-static devices; very dangerous if significant dose ingested; external exposure not a risk, only if ingested; present in tobacco