Mario Scaramella Radiation Hits Second Man
Updated: 15:25, Friday December 01, 2006
An Italian academic who met a former Russian spy on the day he was allegedly poisoned has tested positive for radiation.
Mario Scaramella was found to have isotope Polonium-210 in his body.
He had lunch with ex-security agent Alexander Litvinenko, at the Itsu sushi restaurant in London's Piccadilly, shortly before he fell ill.
Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said Mr Scaramella has not shown the same symptoms as Mr Litvinenko, 43, who suffered vomiting and loss of hair.
The Health Protection Agency confirmed the Italian has a "significant quantity" isotope in his body.
Meanwhile, a post-mortem is being carried out on Mr Litvinenko's body.
He is thought to have ingested or inhaled Polonium-210 before his death on November 23.
Friends of the former spy accuse the Kremlin of being behind the poisoning - an accusation denied by Moscow.
Mr Litvinenko in hospital The post-mortem is being carried out at the Royal London Hospital with special precautions being taken because of the nature of the Russian's death.
The focus of the police inquiry is pointing firmly back at Moscow after traces of radiation were discovered on several aircraft that flew to the Russian capital.
Some of the planes have been grounded at Heathrow.
There were further dramatic twists to the saga on Thursday.
Russia's former prime minister Yegor Gaidar collapsed in Dublin on November 24, suffering from severe vomiting.
Aides said he had been poisoned though there is no official link to the Litvinenko case.
Another former KGB spy who met Mr Litvinenko on the day he was allegedly poisoned, Andrei Lugovoy, once served as Mr Gaidar's bodyguard.
There have been no arrests in the investigation so far. Mr Litvinenko's death is still being treated as suspicious.
**********************************************
the stuff of espionage and intrigue that you would have expected during the 'cold' war...the indication of a second case tested positive for the isotope 210 is sad news to hear. this of course follows on from previous reports, not least the tragic demise of Mr Litvinenko....other suspicious instances:
Poisoning "not natural" 'Ex-Russian PM Poisoned'
Updated: 22:06, Thursday November 30, 2006
Doctors treating a former Russian Prime Minister for a serious illness believe he was poisoned, it has been claimed.
Yegor Gaidar is said to be stable in a Moscow hospital after becoming unwell on a trip to Ireland a week ago.
"Doctors don't see a natural reason for the poisoning," said close aide Valery Natarov.
"They have not been able to detect any natural substance known to them in Gaidar's body.
"So obviously we're talking about poisoning (and) it was not natural poisoning."
He said the ex-premier's condition could not have been the result of food poisoning.
Ann Politkovskaya: Shot dead The news follows the death in London of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko from radiation poisoning.
Sky News correspondent Alex Rossi said of the Gaidar case. "It is extremely strange, another bizarre twist to this story.
"Mr Gaidar is being kept in an undisclosed hospital and his condition is described as stable."
Mr Gaidar, who served briefly as Russian PM in the 1990s, began vomiting and fainted during a conference in Ireland last Friday.
It has been claimed there could be a link between Mr Gaidar's illness, Mr Litvinenko's death and last month's murder of investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya.
All three have been fiercely critical of Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has denied any involvement in the Litvinenko case
and:
The two BA planes at Heathrow Spy Radiation Fears Grow
Updated: 23:19, Thursday November 30, 2006
Traces of radiation have been detected at 12 locations by experts probing the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.
Home Secretary John Reid revealed 24 unnamed locations have been or are currently being monitored.
In another development, it has emerged a former Russian Prime Minister is seriouly ill in hospital - possibly the victim of poisoning.
Yegor Gaidar fell ill during a book tour of Ireland and was flown back to Russia for emergency treatment.
In the UK, one of two BA jets grounded at Heathrow after traces of a radioactive substance were found on board has been given the all clear.
The Health Protection Agency said it did not believe passengers on plane G-BZHA at Heathrow were at risk over the past month. Plane G-BNWX is still being checked.
The Civil Aviation Authority has given clearance for a third BA jet, G-BNWB, to return to London from Moscow for monitorimg.
Mr Litvinenko in hospital Mr Reid said checks had been carried out on a fourth plane which flew into Heathrow from Moscow on Thursday morning.
The Russian Boeing 737, which is leased by Transaero, was later given a clean bill of health.
Mr Reid said concerns have been raised about a fifth plane - also a Russian aircraft.
BA is contacting 33,000 passengers and 3,000 staff after "low levels of radioactive traces" were found on the two jets at Heathrow. Both had flown between London and Moscow.
Five and a half thousand passengers have called a BA helpline since the radiation alert was issued.
Mr Reid told MPs over 1,700 calls has been made to NHS direct following the scare.
Some 139 people have been referred to the Health Protection Agency as a precaution.
Of the 29 tested, none had worrying results. Twenty-four have been referred to specialist clinics.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin A further 53 heathcare staff and 140 staff and visitors to various locations under investigation have been asked to provide urine specimens.
Mr Litvinenko - a fierce critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin - died last week of radiation poisoning after being exposed to polonium 210.
An inquest has been opened at St Pancras Coroner's Court, London. It was adjourned so police can continue their investigation.
The Kremlin has denied any responsibility for Mr Litvinenko's death, describing it as a "tragedy".
So far inquiries have centred on the ex-KGB officer's movements, including his meetings at a West End sushi restaurant and a hotel on 1 November, the day he fell ill.
It has been suggested polonium 210 could be present in other locations including the planes because it leaked from a container or was present in people's bodily fluids.
The BA phone number for passengers is 0845 604 0171, and an international helpline can be reached on 0191 211 3690.
Alternatively, visit the British Airways website.
POLONIUM 210
Causes massive tissue damage Polonium 210: The Facts
The former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko appears to have been poisoned by Polonium 210, a radioactive substance.
Polonium 210 occurs naturally and is present in some foods and naturally in our bodies at very low doses.
It can also be manufactured by bombarding certain substances with neutrons.
And it has industrial uses - such as an anti-static device in the photographic industry.
But polonium 210 is highly radioactive and toxic and is dangerous to handle, requiring special equipment and procedures.
Direct damage occurs from energy absorption into tissues.
If it is ingested - by eating it or via a wound - it will rapidly track through the body and will cause major tissue damage.
And it is easily soluble in dilute acids, such as wine.
It has a half-life of 139 days - that it is the length of time a sample takes to lose half its radioactivity.
A great deal of energy is released by its decay with a half a gram quickly reaching a temperature above 500 degrees centigrade.
WIKIPEDIA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polonium
*************************************************
frighening, nasty stuff of nightmares...but is this only the tip of the iceberg of whats to come.....
http://www.faithless.co.uk/media/video/bombs.html
and ears
.
