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/6190620.stm
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 7 | Version 8 |
---|---|
Poison test for spy case academic | |
(30 minutes later) | |
The academic who met former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko on the day he was taken ill from radiation poisoning has returned to the UK to be tested. | |
Police will also interview Italian Mario Scaramella as a potential witness as part of the inquiry into the death. | |
Detectives are continuing to examine five locations in London where traces of polonium-210 were found. | |
Camden Council said post mortem and special examinations of Mr Litvinenko will take place on Friday. | |
The tests were delayed over concerns about the health implications for those present. | |
The prime minister, meanwhile, has 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. |
Reporter 'tested' | |
The Health Protection Agency said three people who had been to the venues or had contact with Mr Litvinenko are to undergo radiological tests. | |
Mr Litvinenko was a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin | Mr Litvinenko was a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin |
It 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 has also 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. |
Police intend to interview Mr Scaramella but it is understood that he is not in protective custody. | |
Office visit | |
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. |
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 | |
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. |
The government's civil contingencies committee Cobra is meeting again to discuss the case. | |
Scotland Yard has been piecing together Mr Litvinenko's movements on 1 November, the day he fell ill. | |
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 exiled tycoon Boris 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. |
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". |