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Probe into ex-KGB agent poisoning | Probe into ex-KGB agent poisoning |
(about 8 hours later) | |
UK police are investigating after a Russian former security agent in exile in Britain was poisoned by thallium. | UK police are investigating after a Russian former security agent in exile in Britain was poisoned by thallium. |
Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB colonel and critic of President Vladimir Putin, fell ill on 1 November after a meeting at a London sushi bar. | Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB colonel and critic of President Vladimir Putin, fell ill on 1 November after a meeting at a London sushi bar. |
A clinical toxicologist said the 43-year-old had been poisoned with a potentially lethal dose of the metal. | A clinical toxicologist said the 43-year-old had been poisoned with a potentially lethal dose of the metal. |
Mr Litvinenko is in a serious but stable condition in University College Hospital, London. | Mr Litvinenko is in a serious but stable condition in University College Hospital, London. |
He is reported to be under armed guard. | He is reported to be under armed guard. |
'50/50 chance' | '50/50 chance' |
Mr Litvinenko had been investigating the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, a harsh critic of Mr Putin and Russian policy in Chechnya, who was killed in Moscow last month. | Mr Litvinenko had been investigating the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, a harsh critic of Mr Putin and Russian policy in Chechnya, who was killed in Moscow last month. |
Speaking to the BBC last week, he said a contact had approached him to say they should talk, and they arranged to meet at a restaurant in Piccadilly. | Speaking to the BBC last week, he said a contact had approached him to say they should talk, and they arranged to meet at a restaurant in Piccadilly. |
"He gave me some papers which contained some names - perhaps names of those who may have been involved in the murder of Anna Politkovskaya - and several hours after the meeting I started to feel sick." | "He gave me some papers which contained some names - perhaps names of those who may have been involved in the murder of Anna Politkovskaya - and several hours after the meeting I started to feel sick." |
Several hours after the meeting, I started to feel sick Alexander Litvinenko, former Russian agent Profile: Alexander Litvinenko | Several hours after the meeting, I started to feel sick Alexander Litvinenko, former Russian agent Profile: Alexander Litvinenko |
Two weeks later Mr Litvinenko was taken seriously ill and admitted to hospital. | Two weeks later Mr Litvinenko was taken seriously ill and admitted to hospital. |
Clinical toxicologist John Henry said Mr Litvinenko was "quite seriously sick" and there was "no doubt" he had been poisoned by thallium, probably on 1 November. | Clinical toxicologist John Henry said Mr Litvinenko was "quite seriously sick" and there was "no doubt" he had been poisoned by thallium, probably on 1 November. |
He said thallium was a "little bit like table salt" and that a very small amount could be lethal. | |
"It is tasteless, colourless, odourless. It takes about a gram - you know, a large pinch of salt like in your food - to kill you." | "It is tasteless, colourless, odourless. It takes about a gram - you know, a large pinch of salt like in your food - to kill you." |
Mr Litvinenko's friend Alex Goldfarb, who has been visiting him in hospital, said doctors told him he had a 50/50 chance of surviving the next three or four weeks. | Mr Litvinenko's friend Alex Goldfarb, who has been visiting him in hospital, said doctors told him he had a 50/50 chance of surviving the next three or four weeks. |
You could say it [thallium] is only available to secret services Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky What is thallium? | You could say it [thallium] is only available to secret services Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky What is thallium? |
"He looks like a ghost. He lost all his hair. He hasn't eaten for 18 days. He looks like an old man... a month ago he was a fit handsome young man." | "He looks like a ghost. He lost all his hair. He hasn't eaten for 18 days. He looks like an old man... a month ago he was a fit handsome young man." |
He added: "I think this is the work of the Russian Secret Service." | He added: "I think this is the work of the Russian Secret Service." |
Dr Andres Virchis, a doctor from Barnet Hospital who earlier treated Mr Litvinenko, said his bone marrow had failed and he was not producing any normal immune cells. | Dr Andres Virchis, a doctor from Barnet Hospital who earlier treated Mr Litvinenko, said his bone marrow had failed and he was not producing any normal immune cells. |
That was "presumably as the effect of the thallium or even potentially some other unknown substances that we're not aware of", he said. | That was "presumably as the effect of the thallium or even potentially some other unknown substances that we're not aware of", he said. |
Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who also lives in Britain, said thallium was a "special" poison, that "you couldn't just get over the counter". | Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who also lives in Britain, said thallium was a "special" poison, that "you couldn't just get over the counter". |
"You could say it is only available to secret services," he said. | "You could say it is only available to secret services," he said. |
There has been no comment from the Kremlin and the Russian media is reportedly keeping quiet on the incident. | There has been no comment from the Kremlin and the Russian media is reportedly keeping quiet on the incident. |
British citizen | British citizen |
Scotland Yard said there had been no arrests but inquiries were continuing. Officers questioned Mr Litvinenko in hospital for several hours on Sunday. | Scotland Yard said there had been no arrests but inquiries were continuing. Officers questioned Mr Litvinenko in hospital for several hours on Sunday. |
Mr Litvinenko fled Russia and was granted political asylum in Britain in 2001. | Mr Litvinenko fled Russia and was granted political asylum in Britain in 2001. |
He is believed to have taken British citizenship this year, although this has not been confirmed by the Home Office. | He is believed to have taken British citizenship this year, although this has not been confirmed by the Home Office. |
Journalist Anna Politkovskaya was shot dead earlier this year | Journalist Anna Politkovskaya was shot dead earlier this year |
Oleg Gordievsky, another former KGB colonel who defected to the UK and knows Mr Litvinenko well, said: "This assassination attempt was an attempt to kill a British citizen on British soil. It is absolutely outrageous." | Oleg Gordievsky, another former KGB colonel who defected to the UK and knows Mr Litvinenko well, said: "This assassination attempt was an attempt to kill a British citizen on British soil. It is absolutely outrageous." |
He told the BBC he believed Mr Litvinenko was poisoned when he drank a cup of tea at the flat of an old Russian friend - before the lunchtime meeting at the sushi restaurant. | He told the BBC he believed Mr Litvinenko was poisoned when he drank a cup of tea at the flat of an old Russian friend - before the lunchtime meeting at the sushi restaurant. |
In a book, Blowing up Russia: Terror from Within, Mr Litvinenko alleged that agents from KGB successor FSB co-ordinated the 1999 apartment block bombings in Russia that killed more than 300 people. | In a book, Blowing up Russia: Terror from Within, Mr Litvinenko alleged that agents from KGB successor FSB co-ordinated the 1999 apartment block bombings in Russia that killed more than 300 people. |
Russian officials blamed the explosions on Chechen separatists and in that year the Kremlin launched a new military offensive on Chechnya. | Russian officials blamed the explosions on Chechen separatists and in that year the Kremlin launched a new military offensive on Chechnya. |