'Poisoned by radiation'
Shocking ... a deteriorated
Alexander Litvinenko, former KGB spy now living in Britain
NOVEMBER 21, 2006
A FORMER Russian spy may have been poisoned with radioactive thallium at a London restaurant, a medical expert said.
John Henry, a toxicologist treating Alexander Litvinenko, says the former KGB man may need a bone marrow transplant.
He said: "The thallium is the least of it - the radioactivity seems more important.
"In terms of thallium, I do not think I have see a worse case of this.
"It is too early to say how long it will be before he's out of danger. He is very ill at the moment."
Prof Henry said it was likely the poison had been swallowed.
Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism unit is leading the hunt for the culprits.
A top Moscow politician has admitted Litvinenko may have been poisoned by the KGB.
Viktor Ilyukhin — deputy chairman of the Russian parliament’s security committee — declared: “I can’t exclude that possibility.”
He said of the dad of one, whose food is feared to have been spiked at a sushi bar: “That former KGB officer had been irritating the Russian authorities for a long time and possibly knew some state secrets.
“So when our special services got the chance to operate not only inside but outside the country, they decided to get rid of him.”
Litvinenko, 44, is continuing to fight for life at London’s University College Hospital — guarded by armed police.
He was in intensive care, with medics putting his chances of survival at 50:50.
Litvinenko is able to talk and make jokes, but his condition remains serious in intensive care.
Shocking pictures taken yesterday and released by his family showed the appalling effects of the highly-toxic chemical thallium.
Litvinenko was pictured pale and weak in his hospital bed — his hair all gone.
Ravaged ... poisoned ex-KGB man Alexander
Litvinenko in London hospital yesterday
Litvinenko’s white cell count — a gauge of his immune system — was nearly zero.
Prof Henry said damage to his blood cells and bone marrow indicated a radioactive element.
Exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky said after visiting Litvinenko for a second time: “He is really in very bad shape.”
Countryman Ilyukhin said the former KGB colonel, who fled Moscow for Britain five years ago, may have been targeted for probing a Russian journalist’s murder.
Anna Politkovskaya — a leading critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin — was gunned down at her Moscow flat.
Ilyukhin said Litvinenko may have been set “to reveal the truth about Anna Politkovskaya’s assassination”.
The Kremlin has branded his comments “sheer nonsense”.
And one counter-intelligence agent insisted a “hit” by the KGB — now renamed the FSB — would have been more PROFESSIONAL.
He told a Russian paper: “If it was necessary we would find a different, less fussy and public method to get rid of him.”
Litvinenko was poisoned three weeks ago — but thallium takes around a fortnight to kick in.
The police probe is set to focus on two meetings Litvinenko had on November 1. The first was at a London hotel where he had tea with two Russian men — one a former KGB officer.
The second meeting was at a sushi bar in Piccadilly with an Italian academic.
It has emerged that Litvinenko made a secret tape revealing assassinations sanctioned by the Kremlin — in case he was murdered. It was being examined by MI5.
***********************************************************
Sushi pal: I didn't do it
Scaramella ... protesting
his innocence
THE man who was with Alexander Litvinenko for the “poison” sushi meal said last night: “I want to clear my name. I have nothing to do with this.”
Italian academic Mario Scaramella emerged from hiding to say: “I was meeting Litvinenko for a variety of reasons. When I left him he was fine.
“I have been very worried since I heard about it and I think I have been followed.
“I did not poison Alexander Litvinenko. I have been to hospital myself for tests which thankfully have proved clear. This has been a terrible ordeal for me.”
“I have made myself available to British authorities if they want to speak to me.”
Prof Scaramella went on the run after learning of Mr Litvinenko’s poisoning, fearing an attempt on HIS life.
He is a consultant on the Italian government’s Mitrokhin Commission investigating KGB activities in Italy.
In 2004 a gunman from the Camorra, the Naples Mafia, tried to kill Prof Scaramella over his role in getting a mobster’s building demolished.
Last night it was reported he had met Mr Litvinenko to discuss an alleged plot to kill himself and the Mitrokhin committee chairman Paolo Guzzanti.
Prof Scaramella was said to have been given information by Russian secret service contacts.
PM Prodi 'is Russian spy'
ITALIAN PM Romano Prodi has been bizarrely accused of being a KGB agent by Alexander Litvinenko.
The poisoned former spy told his UKIP (the United Kingdom Independence Party that wants Britain to leave the EU) Euro MP Gerard Batten Mr Prodi was the KGB’s “man in Italy”.
Litvinenko sought help from General Anatoly Trofimov, ex-deputy Russian secret service chief, after he was forced to seek political asylum.
Mr Batten told the European Parliament General Trofimov reportedly said: “Don’t go to Italy. There are KGB agents among the politicians. Prodi is our man there.”
Toxin kills by stealth
Fatal ... Thallium
THALLIUM is nicknamed “inheritance powder” by toxin experts — because of its popularity with killers who bumped off relatives.
It has no taste or smell so can be used in food or drinks without suspicion. It was used by Saddam Hussein’s agents as well as the KGB.
Thallium accumulates in all body tissues except fat. It hits the nervous system, paralysing muscles including those in the face. High doses affect swallowing and breathing too.
The fatal dose is around 800mg — about a quarter of a teaspoon.
Radioactive thallium if often used as a "tracer" substance in medicine, especially for investigating heart disease.
Injected into the blood supply, it emits gamma rays which can be detected with a special light.
It can reveal whether a patient's heart is getting enough oxygen and blood.
thesun.co.uk
Shocking ... a deteriorated
Alexander Litvinenko, former KGB spy now living in Britain
A FORMER Russian spy may have been poisoned with radioactive thallium at a London restaurant, a medical expert said.
John Henry, a toxicologist treating Alexander Litvinenko, says the former KGB man may need a bone marrow transplant.
He said: "The thallium is the least of it - the radioactivity seems more important.
"In terms of thallium, I do not think I have see a worse case of this.
"It is too early to say how long it will be before he's out of danger. He is very ill at the moment."
Prof Henry said it was likely the poison had been swallowed.
Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism unit is leading the hunt for the culprits.
A top Moscow politician has admitted Litvinenko may have been poisoned by the KGB.
Viktor Ilyukhin — deputy chairman of the Russian parliament’s security committee — declared: “I can’t exclude that possibility.”
He said of the dad of one, whose food is feared to have been spiked at a sushi bar: “That former KGB officer had been irritating the Russian authorities for a long time and possibly knew some state secrets.
“So when our special services got the chance to operate not only inside but outside the country, they decided to get rid of him.”
Litvinenko, 44, is continuing to fight for life at London’s University College Hospital — guarded by armed police.
He was in intensive care, with medics putting his chances of survival at 50:50.
Litvinenko is able to talk and make jokes, but his condition remains serious in intensive care.
Shocking pictures taken yesterday and released by his family showed the appalling effects of the highly-toxic chemical thallium.
Litvinenko was pictured pale and weak in his hospital bed — his hair all gone.
Litvinenko in London hospital yesterday
Litvinenko’s white cell count — a gauge of his immune system — was nearly zero.
Prof Henry said damage to his blood cells and bone marrow indicated a radioactive element.
Exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky said after visiting Litvinenko for a second time: “He is really in very bad shape.”
Countryman Ilyukhin said the former KGB colonel, who fled Moscow for Britain five years ago, may have been targeted for probing a Russian journalist’s murder.
Anna Politkovskaya — a leading critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin — was gunned down at her Moscow flat.
Ilyukhin said Litvinenko may have been set “to reveal the truth about Anna Politkovskaya’s assassination”.
The Kremlin has branded his comments “sheer nonsense”.
And one counter-intelligence agent insisted a “hit” by the KGB — now renamed the FSB — would have been more PROFESSIONAL.
He told a Russian paper: “If it was necessary we would find a different, less fussy and public method to get rid of him.”
Litvinenko was poisoned three weeks ago — but thallium takes around a fortnight to kick in.
The police probe is set to focus on two meetings Litvinenko had on November 1. The first was at a London hotel where he had tea with two Russian men — one a former KGB officer.
The second meeting was at a sushi bar in Piccadilly with an Italian academic.
It has emerged that Litvinenko made a secret tape revealing assassinations sanctioned by the Kremlin — in case he was murdered. It was being examined by MI5.
***********************************************************
Sushi pal: I didn't do it
Scaramella ... protesting
his innocence
By JULIE MOULT
and VIRGINIA WHEELER
and VIRGINIA WHEELER
THE man who was with Alexander Litvinenko for the “poison” sushi meal said last night: “I want to clear my name. I have nothing to do with this.”
Italian academic Mario Scaramella emerged from hiding to say: “I was meeting Litvinenko for a variety of reasons. When I left him he was fine.
“I have been very worried since I heard about it and I think I have been followed.
“I did not poison Alexander Litvinenko. I have been to hospital myself for tests which thankfully have proved clear. This has been a terrible ordeal for me.”
“I have made myself available to British authorities if they want to speak to me.”
Prof Scaramella went on the run after learning of Mr Litvinenko’s poisoning, fearing an attempt on HIS life.
He is a consultant on the Italian government’s Mitrokhin Commission investigating KGB activities in Italy.
In 2004 a gunman from the Camorra, the Naples Mafia, tried to kill Prof Scaramella over his role in getting a mobster’s building demolished.
Last night it was reported he had met Mr Litvinenko to discuss an alleged plot to kill himself and the Mitrokhin committee chairman Paolo Guzzanti.
Prof Scaramella was said to have been given information by Russian secret service contacts.
PM Prodi 'is Russian spy'
ITALIAN PM Romano Prodi has been bizarrely accused of being a KGB agent by Alexander Litvinenko.
The poisoned former spy told his UKIP (the United Kingdom Independence Party that wants Britain to leave the EU) Euro MP Gerard Batten Mr Prodi was the KGB’s “man in Italy”.
Litvinenko sought help from General Anatoly Trofimov, ex-deputy Russian secret service chief, after he was forced to seek political asylum.
Mr Batten told the European Parliament General Trofimov reportedly said: “Don’t go to Italy. There are KGB agents among the politicians. Prodi is our man there.”
Toxin kills by stealth
THALLIUM is nicknamed “inheritance powder” by toxin experts — because of its popularity with killers who bumped off relatives.
It has no taste or smell so can be used in food or drinks without suspicion. It was used by Saddam Hussein’s agents as well as the KGB.
Thallium accumulates in all body tissues except fat. It hits the nervous system, paralysing muscles including those in the face. High doses affect swallowing and breathing too.
The fatal dose is around 800mg — about a quarter of a teaspoon.
Radioactive thallium if often used as a "tracer" substance in medicine, especially for investigating heart disease.
Injected into the blood supply, it emits gamma rays which can be detected with a special light.
It can reveal whether a patient's heart is getting enough oxygen and blood.
thesun.co.uk
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