Dead spy's friend escapes radiation poisoning
by STEPHEN WRIGHT
Last updated at 15:10 02 December 2006
The death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko took an extraordinary twist as one of his friends was contaminated by the same deadly toxin.
Professor Mario Scaramella had urgent hospital tests after ‘significant’ amounts of polonium 210 were found in his body. However, the results showed no sign of radiation poisoning.
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Scaramella is being treated in University College Hospital in Central London where former KGB spy Mr Litvinenko died nine days ago. Doctors said they had found "no evidence of radiation toxicity". A spokesman added "he is well".
It has also emerged that Mr Litvinenko’s
wife Marina, 44, had also tested positive for the
poison but health officials said the levels were
unlikely to result in her falling ill.
The Government’s emergency planning committee
Cobra was convened late on Friday afternoon to discuss the fallout from the development and a looming diplomatic crisis.
Professor Scaramella, a self-proclaimed
expert on nuclear waste, met his friend Mr
Litvinenko at the Itsu sushi restaurant in
Central London on November 1. It was the day
Mr Litvinenko fell violently ill.
As he lay dying in hospital, Mr Litvinenko told
police he was convinced that he was poisoned
during a hastily-arranged lunch meeting at the
restaurant with Professor Scaramella.
But he was sure his ‘close friend’ was not to
blame – saying he (Litvinenko) had been targeted
by the Kremlin for criticising Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Professor Scaramella, who has repeatedly
protested his innocence, flew into London on
Monday night in a further attempt to clear his
name. It was while being interviewed as a ‘witness’ by Scotland Yard detectives that he was screened for radiation.
The results, which came through yesterday,
are said to have stunned senior officers – and caused panic in Downing Street and at the Health Protection Agency, which is trying to allay public anxiety over the risks radiation contamination.
It also emerged that a luxury hotel where Mr Scaramella stayed this week was being tested for radiation.
Parts of the the five-star Ashdown Park Hotel near Crowborough, East Sussex, were sealed off last night.
Mr Scaramella stayed there as a guest of Scotland Yard. Detectives are trying to establish
whether he was contaminated by accident, or if he was targeted by those responsible for killing Mr Litvinenko.
Radiation experts say anyone poisoned with a high dose of polonium 210 would feel the effects almost immediately. But if he received a low dose it could take a few weeks to fall ill.
A security source said: ‘An extremely murky case has got murkier. Possible theories range from a statesponsored assassination to a revenge attack by a criminal gang.’
Professor Scaramella is the first person
to test positive since Mr Litvinenko’s death triggered a radiation alert.
So far, traces of radiation have been found in 12 locations across London including the Itsu restaurant in Piccadilly, the Millennium Hotel in
Grosvenor Square, Mr Litvinenko’s home, a friend’s car apparently used to take him to hospital, Barnet General Hospital, University College Hospital, and two British Airways jets at
Heathrow.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: ‘Clearly there is another trail that the police have now got to work out and for the agencies to go and examine.’
Police will have to pinpoint Mr Scaramella’s movements in the UK and these locations will then have to be examined by scientists for alpha
radiation – just as with the places visited by Mr Litvinenko, he added.
Professor Scaramella met Mr Litvinenko, 43, at the sushi bar to discuss information he had obtained about the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya.
That night Mr Litvinenko was taken violently ill and within 48 hours had been taken to Barnet Hospital, North London. Professor Scaramella, who
says he only drank water at the meeting, claims Mr Litvinenko must have been poisoned by a bowl of soup.
During the half-hour meeting, the Italian said they discussed ‘alarming’ documents that left them fearing for their lives.
He has said that he told Mr Litvinenko that he had received emails from a confidential source identifying a group of men from St Petersburg as the killers of Miss Politkovskaya.
The emails also listed other potential targets for assassination – including himself and Mr Litvinenko.
Professor Scaramella is also an investigating
magistrate who has looked at links between the Russian and Italian Mafia. News reports in Italy have suggested that he is a member of the Italian
secret services.
In another development, it emerged that detectives are investigating letters smuggled out of Russia purporting to show the existence of a squad set up to target Mr Litvinenko and others.
Scotland Yard has been passed copies of two letters apparently written in jail by former spy Mikhail Trepashkin, in one of which Mr Litvinenko is warned that both he and his family are at risk.
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