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| New locations tested in spy probe | New locations tested in spy probe |
| (29 minutes 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. |
| In a debate on government relations with Russia, Labour MP Chris Bryant said the situation was "worrying". | |
| 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. | 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. | 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." | "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". |
| In Wednesday's debate at Westminster Hall, Foreign Office minister Kim Howells said that Russian dissidents living in the UK "have the right to expect to be able to walk our streets without the fear of being murdered". | |
| Dr Howells said the Government took "a very dim view of anyone murdering citizens on the streets of Britain regardless of where they come from or indeed where their murderers may come from". | |
| Meanwhile, Mr Bryant, a member of Parliament's all-party Russia group, said it was a worrying development that "there are people, clearly, agents of some kind or other, operating in this country who have access to radioactive materials". | |
| But Mr Bryant stressed that he was not making any judgement about who might have killed Mr Litvinenko. | |
| 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. |