This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6182804.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Police probe Russian spy's death | Police probe Russian spy's death |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Counter-terrorism police investigating the death of Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko are examining hours of CCTV footage as they bid to crack the case. | Counter-terrorism police investigating the death of Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko are examining hours of CCTV footage as they bid to crack the case. |
| Detectives are also trying to trace anyone he met around the time he fell ill on 1 November in London. | |
| The officers have also asked the Kremlin for help, despite Russia denying any involvement in the death. | The officers have also asked the Kremlin for help, despite Russia denying any involvement in the death. |
| The ex-spy's death has been linked to the presence of a "major dose" of radioactive polonium-210 in his body. | The ex-spy's death has been linked to the presence of a "major dose" of radioactive polonium-210 in his body. |
| Scotland Yard confirmed radioactive traces were also found at Mr Litvinenko's home, a sushi bar and a hotel, but the risk to others was said to be very low. | Scotland Yard confirmed radioactive traces were also found at Mr Litvinenko's home, a sushi bar and a hotel, but the risk to others was said to be very low. |
| The Home Office said anybody concerned should contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647, who have been briefed about this issue. | The Home Office said anybody concerned should contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647, who have been briefed about this issue. |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Andy Tighe said various sites are being regarded as crime scenes. | BBC home affairs correspondent Andy Tighe said various sites are being regarded as crime scenes. |
| Officers are also interviewing witnesses in an attempt to find out who Mr Litvinenko met around the time he fell ill. | Officers are also interviewing witnesses in an attempt to find out who Mr Litvinenko met around the time he fell ill. |
| Tests are also being carried out at the two London hospitals where Mr Litvinenko had been treated, University College and the Barnet General, the Health Protection Agency said. | Tests are also being carried out at the two London hospitals where Mr Litvinenko had been treated, University College and the Barnet General, the Health Protection Agency said. |
| A post-mortem examination on Mr Litvinenko has not yet been held. | A post-mortem examination on Mr Litvinenko has not yet been held. |
| The delay is believed to be over concerns about the health implications for those present at the examination. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Meanwhile, the government's civil contingencies committee Cobra has met to discuss the case. |
| POLONIUM-210 a highly radioactive and toxic elementpresent in foods in low dosessmall amounts created naturally in the bodycan be manufactured using the bombardment of neutronshas industrial uses such as in anti-static devicesvery dangerous if significant dose ingestedexternal exposure not a risk, only if ingestedpresent in tobacco 'No radiation risk' to public What is polonium-210? | POLONIUM-210 a highly radioactive and toxic elementpresent in foods in low dosessmall amounts created naturally in the bodycan be manufactured using the bombardment of neutronshas industrial uses such as in anti-static devicesvery dangerous if significant dose ingestedexternal exposure not a risk, only if ingestedpresent in tobacco 'No radiation risk' to public What is polonium-210? |
| Friends have said Mr Litvinenko was poisoned because of his criticism of Russia. | 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 had been. | Police searches are taking place at Mr Litvinenko's house in north London and other places he had been. |
| In a statement dictated before he died at University College Hospital on Thursday, the 43-year-old accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of involvement in his death. | In a statement dictated before he died at University College Hospital on Thursday, 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 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's spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated the Kremlin's earlier dismissal of allegations of involvement in the poisoning as "sheer nonsense". |
| LITVINENKO TIMELINE 1 Nov - Alexander Litvinenko meets two Russian men at a London hotel and then meets Italian academic Mario Scaramella at a sushi bar in Piccadilly. Hours later he falls ill and is admitted to Barnet General Hospital17 Nov - Mr Litvinenko is transferred to UCH19 Nov - Reports say Mr Litvinenko is poisoned with thallium21 Nov - A toxicologist says he may have been poisoned with "radioactive thallium"22 Nov - Mr Litvinenko's condition deteriorates overnight. Thallium and radiation ruled out 23 Nov - The ex-spy dies in intensive care Litvinenko statement in full Reaction: Russian's death Timeline of case in full | LITVINENKO TIMELINE 1 Nov - Alexander Litvinenko meets two Russian men at a London hotel and then meets Italian academic Mario Scaramella at a sushi bar in Piccadilly. Hours later he falls ill and is admitted to Barnet General Hospital17 Nov - Mr Litvinenko is transferred to UCH19 Nov - Reports say Mr Litvinenko is poisoned with thallium21 Nov - A toxicologist says he may have been poisoned with "radioactive thallium"22 Nov - Mr Litvinenko's condition deteriorates overnight. Thallium and radiation ruled out 23 Nov - The ex-spy dies in intensive care Litvinenko statement in full Reaction: Russian's death Timeline of case in full |
| Mr Putin himself has said Mr Litvinenko's death was a tragedy, but he saw no "definitive proof" it was a "violent death". | Mr Putin himself has said Mr Litvinenko's death was a tragedy, but he saw no "definitive proof" it was a "violent death". |
| 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. | 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. | 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 Daily Telegraph, 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. | In an interview with Friday's Daily Telegraph, 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. | 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. |