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Deadly polonium traced to Russian nuclear plant
Last updated at 17:22pm on 01.12.06Alexander Litvinenko was most probably murdered by "rogue elements" in the Russian state, it was claimed today.
The claim comes on the day a postmortem examination took place on Litvinenko. Scotland Yard indicated that the result may not be available for several days because of tests to be carried out.
Investigators believe that while the former spy's assassination was not officially sanctioned by Vladimir Putin's government, the polonium 210 which killed him must have come from state nuclear laboratories.
Video...BA planes grounded in radiation alert
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• After spy's death toxin is found at 10 London sites and on five jets
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• Poisoned spy inquest adjourned
• 'Litvinenko's death marks a new kind of Chernobyl - it threatens us all'
The killers must have had access to the laboratories, indicating a level of state involvement, according to intelligence sources. Reports say the source of the polonium 210 has now been traced by British scientists working at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston to a nuclear power plant in Russia.
Aldermaston scientists have been following the trail left by the polonium at 10 sites across London and on three British Airways planes that had been used between London and Moscow. One of the grounded BA planes was due to fly back to London for further inspection; the other two are already at Heathrow.
Lord Coe and Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell are expected to undergo health checks. The pair had flown to Barcelona on an Olympic fact-finding trip, boarding one of the two Boeing 767s currently grounded while undergoing radiation tests.
Ms Jowell said she had laughed when she found out she had flown on one of the "radioactive" planes. It was only when a sharp-eyed civil servant realised their aircraft was one of those involved in the radiation scare that Ms Jowell learned she could have been exposed to polonium 210.
"I'm not at all worried because I know the health risks are infinitesimally small," she said. "I don't expect to be tested. Seb and I and the whole Olympics team were on the flight, which was packed. It came as a surprise but we're among 33,000 or so people involved."
Nevertheless, the minister and her staff have been advised to go for medical tests if they feel ill.
About 33,000 people who took 221 flights across Europe between 25 October and 29 November may have been exposed to radiation although the risk to passengers is said to be extremely low. By last night, about 5,500 people had contacted BA.
A post-mortem examination will be carried out today at the Royal London Hospital with the medical team taking special precautions because of the nature of Mr Litvinenko's death. After the post mortem, his body will be released to his wife for burial.
Reader views (10)
The cold war never really ended. The Russians just regrouped and are working behind the scenes with Iran, Mexico's left politician, Chavez and the list goes on.
- Richard, Cape Coral,USA, 01/12/2006 16:12
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Is anyone really surprised? Poisoning is imbedded in Russian history. And they are still at it. What's anyone gonna do about it anyway?
- Tim, Phoenix ,Arizona U.S.A., 01/12/2006 16:03
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Odd, no one seems surprised that it originated in Russia. Too bad our President still believes Putin has a soul.
- Candy, Hobart, USA, 01/12/2006 15:53
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The most interesting thing about this is that they chose an exotic assination method that would be traced. It was an intimidation move: "we're coming to kill dissent and we want everyone to know and there is not a thing you can do about it."
- Wb, oregon us, 01/12/2006 15:41
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I was rather amused by one woman on BBC TV News whining because, the NHS Direct hotline would not tell her anything 'useful' not even the incubation period for the disease. You have a better chance of winning the euro lottery than you have of being poisoned in this incident.
- Jamie Anderson, Buren, The Netherlands., 01/12/2006 15:40
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It's polonium, not plutonium, Lynn Fewell. Big difference.
- David, Washington DC, 01/12/2006 15:40
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It looks like the Russian Government is Balls deep in this one but is anyone really surprised? The Russians have been doing stuff like this for the last 50 years. Russia is hardly a Democracy...I'm just waiting to see how Putin stays in power since his term limit is coming up!
- Doug, Denver, USA, 01/12/2006 15:36
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Wake-up! Everyone keeps saying there is no danger to the passengers on the planes where traces of the plutonium have been discovered. Medical doctors have said, if inhaled, it can cause lung cancer! How better to inhale something than to get it into the air circulation system of an airplane. Now a new consideration when flying!
- Lynn Fewell, Suwanee, GA, USA, 01/12/2006 15:04
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I hate hearing about this kind of stuff. Especially when the culprits are not feeding polonium sandwiches to the correct people, like Acmadenajad (sp) of Iran.
- Lf, USA, 01/12/2006 15:02
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Could this be the tip of an Ice Berg?
- Kennethengland, Pekin. Ill. USA, 01/12/2006 14:58
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