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| New locations tested in spy probe | New locations tested in spy probe |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Police piecing together the movements of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko are examining two new sites in their inquiry into his poisoning. | Police piecing together the movements of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko are examining two new sites in their inquiry into his poisoning. |
| The search has been extended to the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel and a West End office building, Scotland Yard said. | The search has been extended to the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel and a West End office building, Scotland Yard said. |
| The Health Protection Agency said tests on "key public areas" of the hotel found no risk of radiation poisoning. | The Health Protection Agency said tests on "key public areas" of the hotel found no risk of radiation poisoning. |
| A debate on government relations with Russia brought by a Labour backbencher is due to take place in Parliament. | A debate on government relations with Russia brought by a Labour backbencher is due to take place in Parliament. |
| Detectives have so far examined seven locations in London where traces of polonium-210 - also discovered in the body of former KGB colonel Mr Litvinenko - were found. | Detectives have so far examined seven locations in London where traces of polonium-210 - also discovered in the body of former KGB colonel Mr Litvinenko - were found. |
| 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 Poisoning 'sophisticated' | 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 Poisoning 'sophisticated' |
| The HPA said there is a theoretical risk that anyone who went to areas in which Mr Litvinenko had been could be exposed but the risk was low as polonium-210 cannot pass through skin and must be ingested or inhaled to cause damage. | The HPA said there is a theoretical risk that anyone who went to areas in which Mr Litvinenko had been could be exposed but the risk was low as polonium-210 cannot pass through skin and must be ingested or inhaled to cause damage. |
| In a statement, the HPA said that 160 of the 4,000 healthcare workers employed at the two hospitals where Mr Litvinenko was treated were assessed to determine whether they were at risk. | |
| It said: "As a precaution, of these, some 49 healthcare staff have been asked by HPA staff who have carried out the assessments, to provide urine samples for testing. | |
| "All areas in both hospitals have now been checked for contamination and the HPA is satisfied that there is no contamination that would pose a public health risk." | |
| "We are not finding anything which is going to cause a public heath worry," HPA chief executive Pat Troop told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "We are not finding anything which is going to cause a public heath worry," HPA chief executive Pat Troop told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| "If we had worries we would ask for areas to be sealed." | "If we had worries we would ask for areas to be sealed." |
| 'No barriers' | 'No barriers' |
| Mr Litvinenko, 43, who had taken UK citizenship, had been investigating the murder of prominent Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya. | Mr Litvinenko, 43, who had taken UK citizenship, had been investigating the murder of prominent Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya. |
| Both were critics of the Putin government. | Both were critics of the Putin government. |
| Mr Litvinenko was a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin | Mr Litvinenko was a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin |
| Friends have suggested Russian top-level involvement in Mr Litvinenko's death because of his criticisms but the Kremlin has repeatedly described such allegations as "sheer nonsense". | Friends have suggested Russian top-level involvement in Mr Litvinenko's death because of his criticisms but the Kremlin has repeatedly described such allegations as "sheer nonsense". |
| Tony Blair said he had not spoken to Russian President Putin over the matter, but would "do so at any time that is appropriate". | Tony Blair said he had not spoken to Russian President Putin over the matter, but would "do so at any time that is appropriate". |
| "There is no diplomatic or political barrier in the way of (the) investigation going wherever it needs to go," he said. | "There is no diplomatic or political barrier in the way of (the) investigation going wherever it needs to go," he said. |
| The HPA said eight people have now been referred for tests as a precautionary measure because they had symptoms which may indicate exposure to radiation following Mr Litvinenko's death last Thursday. | The HPA said eight people have now been referred for tests as a precautionary measure because they had symptoms which may indicate exposure to radiation following Mr Litvinenko's death last Thursday. |
| Ms Troop stressed the tests were routine and did not automatically imply that the people were contaminated. | Ms Troop stressed the tests were routine and did not automatically imply that the people were contaminated. |
| The first places where polonium-210 radiation was discovered were the Itsu sushi restaurant in Piccadilly, the Pine Bar in 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 Pine Bar in the Millennium Hotel in Grosvenor Square and Mr Litvinenko's home in Muswell Hill, north London. |
| Billionaire Russian exile Boris Berezovsky confirmed that his office in Down Street, Mayfair, was another place where traces of radiation had been found during the investigation. | Billionaire Russian exile Boris Berezovsky confirmed that his office in Down Street, Mayfair, was another place where traces of radiation had been found during the investigation. |
| 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. |
| A second office building in Grosvenor Street is also being examined. | A second office building in Grosvenor Street is also being examined. |