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/6203222.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Spy death inquiry moves to Russia | Spy death inquiry moves to Russia |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Counter-terror police are to travel to Russia as part of the inquiry into the death of Russian ex-agent Alexander Litvinenko, the BBC has learned. | Counter-terror police are to travel to Russia as part of the inquiry into the death of Russian ex-agent Alexander Litvinenko, the BBC has learned. |
| Home Secretary John Reid earlier said he thought the inquiry into Mr Litvinenko's poisoning would expand beyond Britain. | Home Secretary John Reid earlier said he thought the inquiry into Mr Litvinenko's poisoning would expand beyond Britain. |
| Mario Scaramella - a contact of Mr Litvinenko who is currently in hospital - was said to be "well" by doctors. | Mario Scaramella - a contact of Mr Litvinenko who is currently in hospital - was said to be "well" by doctors. |
| Tests have shown traces of radioactive polonium-210 in the Italian's body. | |
| 'Wider investigation' | 'Wider investigation' |
| The BBC's Daniel Sandford said it was understood nine officers from the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command could travel to Russia as early as Monday. | The BBC's Daniel Sandford said it was understood nine officers from the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command could travel to Russia as early as Monday. |
| The specialist unit - which was launched in October to meet terrorist threats - is heading the investigation into the former KGB agent's poisoning. | The specialist unit - which was launched in October to meet terrorist threats - is heading the investigation into the former KGB agent's poisoning. |
| News of the visit came after Mr Reid said the investigation was set to widen. | News of the visit came after Mr Reid said the investigation was set to widen. |
| Discussing various aspects of Mr Litvinenko's death, Mr Reid told Sky News: "Over the next few days I think that all of these things will widen out a little from the circle just being here in Britain. | Discussing various aspects of Mr Litvinenko's death, Mr Reid told Sky News: "Over the next few days I think that all of these things will widen out a little from the circle just being here in Britain. |
| "Tomorrow I will be at the European Council and I will certainly be sharing information and getting what we can from European counterparts. | "Tomorrow I will be at the European Council and I will certainly be sharing information and getting what we can from European counterparts. |
| "The health authorities are already starting to liaise with our European colleagues and the police will follow wherever this investigation leads; inside or outside Britain." | "The health authorities are already starting to liaise with our European colleagues and the police will follow wherever this investigation leads; inside or outside Britain." |
| Minimal dose | Minimal dose |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis welcomed news that the investigation was expanding. | Shadow home secretary David Davis welcomed news that the investigation was expanding. |
| He told BBC One's The Politics Show: "I think it's a good thing, I think it's very important that no channel is left unpursued, that this investigation goes right to its limit wherever that may be and that limit should not be a diplomatic limit, it should be the limit of the evidence." | He told BBC One's The Politics Show: "I think it's a good thing, I think it's very important that no channel is left unpursued, that this investigation goes right to its limit wherever that may be and that limit should not be a diplomatic limit, it should be the limit of the evidence." |
| There has been no change in the condition of Mr Scaramella, who is being monitored at University College Hospital, London. | There has been no change in the condition of Mr Scaramella, who is being monitored at University College Hospital, London. |
| Forty-three-year-old Mr Litvinenko died on 23 NovemberDoctors said the academic - who was one of the last people to meet Mr Litvinenko before his death last month - was "well" with "normal" test results. | Forty-three-year-old Mr Litvinenko died on 23 NovemberDoctors said the academic - who was one of the last people to meet Mr Litvinenko before his death last month - was "well" with "normal" test results. |
| He is said to be displaying no symptoms of radiation poisoning. | He is said to be displaying no symptoms of radiation poisoning. |
| Mr Scaramella's lawyer Sergio Rastrelli told Channel 4 News his client was "clearly worried". | Mr Scaramella's lawyer Sergio Rastrelli told Channel 4 News his client was "clearly worried". |
| "The doctors said he has definitely been contaminated with polonium but it's not radioactive," he said. | "The doctors said he has definitely been contaminated with polonium but it's not radioactive," he said. |
| "So he has ingested or inhaled it, but in [an] extremely minimal dose, far less than that with which Litvinenko was poisoned." | "So he has ingested or inhaled it, but in [an] extremely minimal dose, far less than that with which Litvinenko was poisoned." |
| Critic | Critic |
| Mr Litvinenko's death is being linked to the discovery of polonium-210 in his body. | Mr Litvinenko's death is being linked to the discovery of polonium-210 in his body. |
| Friends believe he was poisoned because of his criticisms of the Putin government. | Friends believe he was poisoned because of his criticisms of the Putin government. |
| The Scaramella file resembles a story from a spy novel BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner Scaramella in spotlight | The Scaramella file resembles a story from a spy novel BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner Scaramella in spotlight |
| On Saturday, airline Easyjet said Mr Scaramella had flown on flight 3506 from Naples to Stansted, Essex, on 31 October and also on flight 3505 from Stansted to Naples on 3 November. | On Saturday, airline Easyjet said Mr Scaramella had flown on flight 3506 from Naples to Stansted, Essex, on 31 October and also on flight 3505 from Stansted to Naples on 3 November. |
| But the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said it had no "public health concerns" about those flights. | But the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said it had no "public health concerns" about those flights. |
| Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander also moved to reassure the public and said the government did have measures in place at airports to detect "radioactive materials". | Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander also moved to reassure the public and said the government did have measures in place at airports to detect "radioactive materials". |
| Radiological assessment | Radiological assessment |
| The Health Protection Agency said just under 3,000 people had now called the NHS Direct line in the wake of the radiation scare in the UK, with 170 being followed up for further investigation. | The Health Protection Agency said just under 3,000 people had now called the NHS Direct line in the wake of the radiation scare in the UK, with 170 being followed up for further investigation. |
| A total of 60 samples have been tested, mainly from medical staff and ambulance workers, and all have proved negative. | A total of 60 samples have been tested, mainly from medical staff and ambulance workers, and all have proved negative. |
| The number of people referred as a precaution to a specialist outpatient clinic for radiological exposure assessment remains at 24. | The number of people referred as a precaution to a specialist outpatient clinic for radiological exposure assessment remains at 24. |