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| Alexander Litvinenko inquiry: Former spy told police Vladimir Putin ordered poisoning that put thousands of Britons at risk, hearing told | Alexander Litvinenko inquiry: Former spy told police Vladimir Putin ordered poisoning that put thousands of Britons at risk, hearing told |
| (less than a minute earlier) | |
| Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko told police while on his deathbed that the only person who could have authorised his poisoning was Vladimir Putin, a public inquiry has heard. | Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko told police while on his deathbed that the only person who could have authorised his poisoning was Vladimir Putin, a public inquiry has heard. |
| Mr Litvinenko, a former secret agent and political dissident, died in hospital nearly three weeks after consuming tea laced with radioactive chemical polonium while meeting two Russian men at a hotel in London. | Mr Litvinenko, a former secret agent and political dissident, died in hospital nearly three weeks after consuming tea laced with radioactive chemical polonium while meeting two Russian men at a hotel in London. |
| An inquiry into his death today heard extracts from Litvinenko's interviews with police shortly before his death, The Guardian has reported. | An inquiry into his death today heard extracts from Litvinenko's interviews with police shortly before his death, The Guardian has reported. |
| In the interview Mr Litvinenko told police: "I have no doubt this was done by the Russia secret services." | In the interview Mr Litvinenko told police: "I have no doubt this was done by the Russia secret services." |
| Alexander Litvinenko served in the KGB and its successor the Federal Security Service (FSB) but left in 2000, having been arrested for exceeding the authority of his position, charges which were dismissed (Rex Features) | Alexander Litvinenko served in the KGB and its successor the Federal Security Service (FSB) but left in 2000, having been arrested for exceeding the authority of his position, charges which were dismissed (Rex Features) |
| He went on to say Putin was the only person who could have given such an order. | He went on to say Putin was the only person who could have given such an order. |
| At the opening of the hearing today, counsel to the inquiry Robin Tam QC said thousands of Britons and tourists were put at risk from radioactivity when Mr Litvinenko was poisoned. | At the opening of the hearing today, counsel to the inquiry Robin Tam QC said thousands of Britons and tourists were put at risk from radioactivity when Mr Litvinenko was poisoned. |
| Mr Tam said traces of polonium were found across the city at the time of the former spy's death. | Mr Tam said traces of polonium were found across the city at the time of the former spy's death. |
| Sergei Ivanov with Vladimir Putin in 2012 (AFP/Getty Images) | Sergei Ivanov with Vladimir Putin in 2012 (AFP/Getty Images) |
| A public health alert was issued around the time of the death, when traces of the chemical were found in "large numbers of places across London." | A public health alert was issued around the time of the death, when traces of the chemical were found in "large numbers of places across London." |
| The inquiry heard that former KGB bodyguard Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun have been identified as the prime suspects in the killing. | The inquiry heard that former KGB bodyguard Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun have been identified as the prime suspects in the killing. |
| Britain has accused Russia of involvement in the death. Moscow denies the claim, and has refused to extradite the two men identified by Britain as the prime suspects. | Britain has accused Russia of involvement in the death. Moscow denies the claim, and has refused to extradite the two men identified by Britain as the prime suspects. |
| The hearing continues. | The hearing continues. |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |