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| Alexander Litvinenko inquiry: Former spy's death was 'act of nuclear terrorism', hearing told | Alexander Litvinenko inquiry: Former spy's death was 'act of nuclear terrorism', hearing told |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| The murder of Alexander Litvinenko was an "act of nuclear terrorism", the barrister representing the former Russian spy's wife told a public inquiry today. | The murder of Alexander Litvinenko was an "act of nuclear terrorism", the barrister representing the former Russian spy's wife told a public inquiry today. |
| 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. |
| The Russian spy told police while on his deathbed that the only person who could have authorised his poisoning was Vladimir Putin. | The Russian spy told police while on his deathbed that the only person who could have authorised his poisoning was Vladimir Putin. |
| The QC representing Marina Litvinenko told the inquiry that the spy's death was "an act of unspeakable barbarism". | The QC representing Marina Litvinenko told the inquiry that the spy's death was "an act of unspeakable barbarism". |
| "Vladimir Putin should be unmasked by this inquiry as nothing more or less than a common criminal dressed up as a Head of State. | "Vladimir Putin should be unmasked by this inquiry as nothing more or less than a common criminal dressed up as a Head of State. |
| "We know now that in revealing Putin's links to organised crime Mr Litvinenko had reached a point where he was hovering near the flame like a proverbial moth,“ he said. | "We know now that in revealing Putin's links to organised crime Mr Litvinenko had reached a point where he was hovering near the flame like a proverbial moth,“ he said. |
| Using Mr Litvinenko's nickname, he said: "That murder was an act of unspeakable barbarism that inflicted on [Alexander] Sasha Litvinenko the most painful and lingering death imaginable. | Using Mr Litvinenko's nickname, he said: "That murder was an act of unspeakable barbarism that inflicted on [Alexander] Sasha Litvinenko the most painful and lingering death imaginable. |
| "It was an act of nuclear terrorism on the streets of a major city which put the lives of numerous other members of the public at risk," he added. | "It was an act of nuclear terrorism on the streets of a major city which put the lives of numerous other members of the public at risk," he added. |
| The inquiry also today heard extracts from Litvinenko's interviews with police shortly before his death. | |
| In an interview with police, Mr Litvinenko said: "I have no doubt this was done by the Russia secret services." | In an interview with police, Mr Litvinenko said: "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) 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. | 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) 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, including Arsenal FC's Emirates Stadium, bars and hotel rooms used by the prime suspects Andrey Lugovoy and Dmitry Kovtun, the Telegraph reported. | Mr Tam said traces of polonium were found across the city at the time of the former spy's death, including Arsenal FC's Emirates Stadium, bars and hotel rooms used by the prime suspects Andrey Lugovoy and Dmitry Kovtun, the Telegraph reported. |
| 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 |