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Man tests positive for radiation | Man tests positive for radiation |
(20 minutes later) | |
Italian Mario Scaramella, a contact of dead ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko, has tested positive for polonium-210. | Italian Mario Scaramella, a contact of dead ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko, has tested positive for polonium-210. |
Mr Scaramella is not thought to be suffering physical symptoms but the amount found is "likely to be of concern for [his] immediate health". | |
He met Mr Litvinenko at sushi restaurant Itsu in central London on the day he fell ill. | He met Mr Litvinenko at sushi restaurant Itsu in central London on the day he fell ill. |
Meanwhile, the post-mortem examination on Mr Litvinenko, a former KGB agent, has started. | Meanwhile, the post-mortem examination on Mr Litvinenko, a former KGB agent, has started. |
Those present at the examination at the Royal London Hospital, in east London, will wear protective clothing to avoid contamination by traces of the polonium-210 isotope. | Those present at the examination at the Royal London Hospital, in east London, will wear protective clothing to avoid contamination by traces of the polonium-210 isotope. |
Mr Scaramella is involved in an Italian parliamentary inquiry into KGB activity and was sufficiently worried by the contents of an e-mail to ask for advice from Mr Litvinenko. | Mr Scaramella is involved in an Italian parliamentary inquiry into KGB activity and was sufficiently worried by the contents of an e-mail to ask for advice from Mr Litvinenko. |
HAVE YOUR SAY I work in the one of the office buildings where polonium-210 has been detected, and we have had no assistance at all from the authorities Gate, London Send us your experiences | HAVE YOUR SAY I work in the one of the office buildings where polonium-210 has been detected, and we have had no assistance at all from the authorities Gate, London Send us your experiences |
They met at Itsu on 1 November, although in the aftermath the Italian academic suggested he had not eaten anything. | They met at Itsu on 1 November, although in the aftermath the Italian academic suggested he had not eaten anything. |
An HPA spokesman refused to confirm that the positive test related to Mr Scaramella, but said the amount found was "likely to be of concern for their immediate health". | |
A statement said: "The agency can confirm it was informed this morning that tests have established that a further person - who was in direct and very close contact with Mr Litvinenko - has a significant quantity of the radioactive isotope Polonium-210 in their body. | |
"This person is now to be investigated further in hospital." | "This person is now to be investigated further in hospital." |
UKIP MEP Gerard Batten, an acquaintance of Mr Scaramella, said he had seemed fine when they last spoke. | |
"The last time I spoke to him, on Sunday I think, his worry about his own contamination had been allayed - he thought he was ok." | |
Mr Litvinenko died last week in a London hospital | |
The probe into Mr Litvinenko's death has seen two planes tested for radiation and a third is due back from Moscow for checks. | The probe into Mr Litvinenko's death has seen two planes tested for radiation and a third is due back from Moscow for checks. |
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and Olympics chief Lord Coe travelled on one of the aircraft already tested. | Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and Olympics chief Lord Coe travelled on one of the aircraft already tested. |
The pair took a British Airways flight to Barcelona in November on board one of the two planes that have already been tested for traces of radiation. | The pair took a British Airways flight to Barcelona in November on board one of the two planes that have already been tested for traces of radiation. |
Russia said it would co-operate fully with the inquiry into Mr Litvinenko's death. | |
Its Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: "The ball is now with Britain, everything depends on British investigators." | |
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 | |
Mr Litvinenko, an ex-KGB officer and critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died last week of radiation poisoning attributed to polonium-210. | Mr Litvinenko, an ex-KGB officer and critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died last week of radiation poisoning attributed to polonium-210. |
The investigation into the spy's death has unearthed traces of radiation at 12 locations, including the two planes. | The investigation into the spy's death has unearthed traces of radiation at 12 locations, including the two planes. |
British Airways is contacting 33,000 passengers from 221 flights, but the airline and the government have stressed any risk to public health low. | British Airways is contacting 33,000 passengers from 221 flights, but the airline and the government have stressed any risk to public health low. |
A total of 217 people have been seen by a specialist assessment clinic. | A total of 217 people have been seen by a specialist assessment clinic. |
Yegor Gaidar became violently ill with a mystery illness Ex-PM has mystery illness | Yegor Gaidar became violently ill with a mystery illness Ex-PM has mystery illness |
On Friday the British Embassy in Moscow said there was no information to suspect any link between Mr Litvinenko's death and the illness of former prime minister of Russia Yegor Gaidar. | On Friday the British Embassy in Moscow said there was no information to suspect any link between Mr Litvinenko's death and the illness of former prime minister of Russia Yegor Gaidar. |
Mr Gaidar fell ill last week on a visit to Ireland and his daughter Maria told the BBC doctors believe he was poisoned. | |
Meanwhile, the FBI said it had been asked to join the British investigation into Mr Litvinenko's death.. | |
Friends of Mr Litvinenko say Russian intelligence agents plotted to kill the former spy. | Friends of Mr Litvinenko say Russian intelligence agents plotted to kill the former spy. |
Polonium-210 was discovered in his body, with more traces found at venues he visited in London on 1 November. | Polonium-210 was discovered in his body, with more traces found at venues he visited in London on 1 November. |