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Five sites tested in spy inquiry | Five sites tested in spy inquiry |
(20 minutes later) | |
Tests have now been carried out at five London locations where traces of the poison that killed former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko were found. | Tests have now been carried out at five London locations where traces of the poison that killed former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko were found. |
Three people who have either been to the venues or had contact with him are to undergo radiological tests. | Three people who have either been to the venues or had contact with him are to undergo radiological tests. |
The latest sites found to have traces of polonium-210 radiation include the offices of exile Boris Berezovsky. | The latest sites found to have traces of polonium-210 radiation include the offices of exile Boris Berezovsky. |
The prime minister said no "diplomatic or political barrier" would stand in the way of the police investigation. | The prime minister said no "diplomatic or political barrier" would stand in the way of the police investigation. |
"It is obviously a very, very serious matter indeed. We are determined to find out what happened and who is responsible," Tony Blair said. | "It is obviously a very, very serious matter indeed. We are determined to find out what happened and who is responsible," Tony Blair said. |
Scotland Yard has been piecing together Mr Litvinenko's movements on 1 November, the day he fell ill. | Scotland Yard has been piecing together Mr Litvinenko's movements on 1 November, the day he fell ill. |
The Italian academic he met on that day has now returned to Britain to be tested for radiation contamination. | The Italian academic he met on that day has now returned to Britain to be tested for radiation contamination. |
Police will interview Professor Mario Scaramella as a potential witness, but it is understood that he is not in protective custody. | Police will interview Professor Mario Scaramella as a potential witness, but it is understood that he is not in protective custody. |
Mr Litvinenko was a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin | |
The Health Protection Agency said more than 450 people had called a government hotline for advice and 18 had been followed up. | The Health Protection Agency said more than 450 people had called a government hotline for advice and 18 had been followed up. |
Three have been referred to a specialist clinic as a precautionary measure because they had symptoms which may indicate radiation poisoning. | Three have been referred to a specialist clinic as a precautionary measure because they had symptoms which may indicate radiation poisoning. |
Daily Mirror reporter Graham Brough, meanwhile, has said he will also be referred after conducting an interview with Mr Scaramella. | Daily Mirror reporter Graham Brough, meanwhile, has said he will also be referred after conducting an interview with Mr Scaramella. |
The HPA is yet to confirm that Mr Brough will join the three people set to undergo further tests. | The HPA is yet to confirm that Mr Brough will join the three people set to undergo further tests. |
EXPOSURE RISK Contact with carrier's sweat or urine could lead to exposureBut polonium-210 must be ingested to cause damageRadiation has very short range and cannot pass through skinWashing eliminates traces | EXPOSURE RISK Contact with carrier's sweat or urine could lead to exposureBut polonium-210 must be ingested to cause damageRadiation has very short range and cannot pass through skinWashing eliminates traces |
Polonium-210 cannot pass through skin, and must be ingested or inhaled to cause damage. | Polonium-210 cannot pass through skin, and must be ingested or inhaled to cause damage. |
There is a theoretical risk that anyone who came into contact with the urine, faeces, and possibly even sweat, of Mr Litvinenko could ingest a small amount of polonium-210. | There is a theoretical risk that anyone who came into contact with the urine, faeces, and possibly even sweat, of Mr Litvinenko could ingest a small amount of polonium-210. |
But this kind of radiation has a very short range and can be stopped by a sheet of paper or by the dead layer of outer skin. | But this kind of radiation has a very short range and can be stopped by a sheet of paper or by the dead layer of outer skin. |
The HPA said the risk of the public being exposed remains low and most traces can be eliminated through handwashing, or washing machine and dishwasher cycles. | The HPA said the risk of the public being exposed remains low and most traces can be eliminated through handwashing, or washing machine and dishwasher cycles. |
Office visit | Office visit |
The government's civil contingencies committee Cobra is due to meet again to discuss the case. | The government's civil contingencies committee Cobra is due to meet again to discuss the case. |
The first places where polonium-210 radiation was discovered were the Itsu sushi restaurant in Piccadilly, the Millennium Hotel in Grosvenor Square and Mr Litvinenko's home in Muswell Hill, north London. | The first places where polonium-210 radiation was discovered were the Itsu sushi restaurant in Piccadilly, the Millennium Hotel in Grosvenor Square and Mr Litvinenko's home in Muswell Hill, north London. |
On the day he was taken ill, he had had meetings at the restaurant and the hotel's Pine Bar. | On the day he was taken ill, he had had meetings at the restaurant and the hotel's Pine Bar. |
Mr Litvinenko's friend Alex Goldfarb said one of the latest addresses where radiation was found - 7 Down Street - houses the offices of Mr Berezovsky, an associate. | Mr Litvinenko's friend Alex Goldfarb said one of the latest addresses where radiation was found - 7 Down Street - houses the offices of Mr Berezovsky, an associate. |
The fifth location, on the fourth floor of 25 Grosvenor Street, is the headquarters of security and risk management company Erinys. | The fifth location, on the fourth floor of 25 Grosvenor Street, is the headquarters of security and risk management company Erinys. |
Erinys said the company "immediately contacted" the police to tell them of a visit made by Mr Litvinenko to its offices. | Erinys said the company "immediately contacted" the police to tell them of a visit made by Mr Litvinenko to its offices. |
The death of the 43-year-old former KGB colonel last Thursday has been linked to the discovery of polonium-210 in his body. | The death of the 43-year-old former KGB colonel last Thursday has been linked to the discovery of polonium-210 in his body. |
Mr Litvinenko had been investigating the murder of prominent Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, another critic of the Putin government. | Mr Litvinenko had been investigating the murder of prominent Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, another critic of the Putin government. |
He became a British citizen after coming to live in the UK in 2000. | He became a British citizen after coming to live in the UK in 2000. |
Home Secretary John Reid told MPs that Russia had been asked to co-operate in the inquiry into Mr Litvinenko's death. | Home Secretary John Reid told MPs that Russia had been asked to co-operate in the inquiry into Mr Litvinenko's death. |
In an emergency statement in the Commons on Monday, Mr Reid said the Russian ambassador had been called to the Foreign Office at the end of last week. | In an emergency statement in the Commons on Monday, Mr Reid said the Russian ambassador had been called to the Foreign Office at the end of last week. |
Friends have suggested Russian top-level involvement in his death because Mr Litvinenko was a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. | Friends have suggested Russian top-level involvement in his death because Mr Litvinenko was a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. |
But the Kremlin has repeatedly dismissed allegations of involvement in the death as "sheer nonsense". | But the Kremlin has repeatedly dismissed allegations of involvement in the death as "sheer nonsense". |