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Litvinenko post-mortem 'probably most dangerous ever' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The post-mortem examination of poisoned Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko was probably "the most dangerous ever undertaken in the Western world", a pathologist has said. | |
Dr Nathaniel Cary told the inquiry into Mr Litvinenko's death that his body was "very hazardous" and had to be transferred to a secure site for tests. | |
Mr Litvinenko died from radiation poisoning in a London hospital in 2006. | |
His death came nearly three weeks after he drank tea laced with polonium. | |
The former KGB agent had fled to the UK where he became a vocal critic of the Kremlin and worked for the UK intelligence service MI6. | |
Dr Cary, a Home Office forensic pathologist, said he and his colleagues wore white suits, protective gloves and specialised hoods, which had air pumped into them through a filter, during the post-mortem examination. | |
Ongoing investigation | |
He told the inquiry: "It has been described as the most dangerous post-mortem examination ever undertaken in the western world and I think that is probably right." | |
Earlier, a counter-terrorism officer said two men suspected of killing Mr Litvinenko - Russians Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun - are still wanted by police for murder. | |
Det Insp Craig Mascall told the inquiry there was an "ongoing criminal investigation". | |
Mr Lugovoi and Mr Kovtun have both denied involvement. | |
Det Insp Mascall also told the inquiry that at its peak, 100 detectives and 100 uniformed officers worked on the investigation. | |
On Tuesday, counsel to the inquiry Robin Tam QC said that Mr Litvinenko may have been poisoned twice. | On Tuesday, counsel to the inquiry Robin Tam QC said that Mr Litvinenko may have been poisoned twice. |
Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina has said her husband blamed the Kremlin as he lay dying in hospital, but Russia denies any involvement. | Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina has said her husband blamed the Kremlin as he lay dying in hospital, but Russia denies any involvement. |