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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Litvinenko post-mortem 'probably most dangerous ever' | Litvinenko post-mortem 'probably most dangerous ever' |
| (about 1 hour 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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." | 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." |
| Oral ingestion | Oral ingestion |
| Dr Cary said Mr Litvinenko had shown signs of multi-organ failure as a result of acute radiation poisoning. | Dr Cary said Mr Litvinenko had shown signs of multi-organ failure as a result of acute radiation poisoning. |
| He added: "It appears Mr Litvinenko ingested a large quantity of polonium-210 on or around 1 November 2006, largely if not wholly by oral ingestion, rather than by inhalation. | He added: "It appears Mr Litvinenko ingested a large quantity of polonium-210 on or around 1 November 2006, largely if not wholly by oral ingestion, rather than by inhalation. |
| "The calculated amount absorbed was in far excess of known survivability limits." | "The calculated amount absorbed was in far excess of known survivability limits." |
| There was no precedent for such a case of alpha particle radiation poisoning in the UK, he said. | There was no precedent for such a case of alpha particle radiation poisoning in the UK, he said. |
| Ongoing investigation | Ongoing investigation |
| 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. | 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". | Det Insp Craig Mascall told the inquiry there was an "ongoing criminal investigation". |
| Mr Lugovoi and Mr Kovtun have both denied involvement. | 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. | 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. |
| Russian interview | |
| The inquiry also heard Mr Lugovoi had given an interview to the Echo of Moscow radio station in response to Tuesday's proceedings. | |
| Ben Emmerson QC, who represents Mr Litvinenko's widow , said Mr Lugovoi had claimed the proceedings were resurrected, after being suspended due to the exclusion of secret material, in response to the Ukrainian conflict. | |
| Reading a translation of Mr Lugovoi's interview, Mr Emmerson said: "When the situation in Ukraine kicked off and the UK geographical interest... they had decided to dust off the mothballs and commence proceedings." | |
| Mr Lugovoi also said he "couldn't care less about what's happening" in Britain in response to the start of the inquiry, Mr Emmerson added. | |
| The Litvinenko case | The Litvinenko case |
| BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera: Will inquiry find answers? | BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera: Will inquiry find answers? |