After Spy Death, U.K. Maps Radiation

(CBS/AP)  The British government began tracking radioactive hotspots in London on Monday to trace the poison that killed a former KGB agent, and three people who reported possible symptoms of contamination underwent testing.

Britain announced a formal inquest into the death of Alexander Litvinenko, but Home Secretary John Reid warned against rushing to conclusions over who might be responsible for the killing of the ex-spy turned Kremlin critic.

Litvinenko died Thursday after falling ill from what doctors said was poisoning by polonium-210, a radioactive isotope usually manufactured in specialized nuclear facilities. High doses of polonium, which is deadly if ingested or inhaled, were found in Litvinenko's body.

"The nature of this radiation is such that it does not travel over long distances, a few centimeters at most, and therefore there is no need for public alarm," Reid said in a special address to the House of Commons.

Six sites showed traces of radiation linked to the poisoning, including a bar in London's Millennium Hotel, a branch of Itsu Sushi near Piccadilly Circus, Litvinenko's house in North London and a section of the hospital where he was treated when he fell ill on Nov. 1. Two other sites — an office block in London's west end and an address in the posh neighborhood of Mayfair — also showed traces of radiation, Scotland Yard said.

Sky News, citing anonymous sources, reported that the chemical had been found at a residence in central London's up-market Mayfair neighborhood, and an office block in the city's West End, but gave no further details.

All the locations except Litvinenko's home are in west London, separated by about a mile.

"They said there was only a trace," said Alan Humberstone, a 27-year-old computer technician who said police found radiation at his office building in Mayfair. "(Police) said, 'You would have to ingest something to be at risk."

The building near the Millennium Hotel contains a business-intelligence company, Titon International Ltd., whose CEO was a former U.K. Special Services director, and Erinys UK Ltd., an international security and risk-management company.

Erinys confirmed that Litvinenko had visited the office "on a matter totally unrelated to issues now being investigated by the police," but declined to elaborate. None of the staff who had contact with him have reported any ill effects, the statement said.

The other location reportedly houses an office of Boris Berezovsky, the self-exiled tycoon and Kremlin critic wanted in Russia on money-laundering charges. Businesses listed at the address include a fund adviser, an investment firm, an energy company and offices of the newspaper publisher Metro International.

Berezovsky, who knew Litvinenko before both came to Britain and reportedly paid for the ex-spy's home in North London, told The Associated Press on Monday he would make no comment until the investigation was over.

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[cathaleen]

I think there is more to this than a single murder. Usually the Russians aren't that sloppy.
There are more people getting ill in London and it appears it may be some sort of radiation poisoning.

[frankly6]

If you find bushrocks1 endless robotic spaming pointless and counterproductive, just click on "report this comment" below his post and report it.

[aeasus]

He was probably getting close to finding out what happened to that reporter and why. Combine that with being a defector,traitor,and using his contacts aquired from the KGB against the Kremlin should constitute treason.

I'm sure there is more to this story then what has been reported.

The fact that he died is sad but, the real story here is that lethal radioactive material was being transported around London,and noone had a clue.

[alphaa10-2009]

Litvinenko and The Finger of Accusation--
Agnim's reptilian tongue flickered, and he became the soul of reason and probity, "Haven't we enough murders of our own individual citizens to contend with here? ... We are talking SPY here, not angel! Let's keep perspective... No doubt this spy was a murderer himself. And so he got part of the usual spy karma; what's the big deal? ... kill and (sic) be killed is the name of the spy game from what we can understand of the murky and murderous world of spies, yes?
---

Nyet, Comrade Agnim...

If Litvinenko were still a spy, he would not have chosen the public profile of a Putin critic. Which renders that explanation a non-starter.

If Litvinenko were still a spy, for whom did he spy? The UK? Since Litvinenko did not travel outside Britain-- certainly not to Russia-- he was of little use to MI5. That explanation of his status makes no sense, either.

If Litvinenko were merely an annoying KGB defector, that is no burning case for assassination-- assassination only prompts the world to start asking embarrassing questions. Which does not explain the murder.

[alphaa10-2009]

The Finger of Accusation-- 2
If Litvinenko were an effective political dissident, however-- a dissident just beginning to gain traction with global media and a startling line of inquiry about a Russian (FSB) plan to bomb fellow Russians to justify reopening the Chechen war-- then simply airing questions about this sensitive topic conceivably could threaten certain murderous, dictatorial regimes for whom "naive" principles of humanity, law and civilization are no impediment.

Litvinenko on his deadbed statement against Putin got it right, accusing Putin of having "no respect for life, liberty or any civilized value."

"You may succeed in silencing me," Litvinenko said, "but that silence comes at a price. You have shown yourself to be as barbaric and ruthless as your most hostile critics have claimed.

"You may succeed in silencing one man but the howl of protest from around the world will reverberate, Mr. Putin, in your ears for the rest of your life."

[bushrocks1]

Would I send my son to this war? You might ask would I send him to WW II? Or Vietnam? Maybe you would distinguish those conflicts and whether you would send your son to fight in them. But that question is misdirected in a very important way: I can't command my son to go to war. He has to make that choice. So the better question would be: would I volunteer to fight in Iraq, WW II, Vietnam? Would I volunteer to fight in any war? Respond if drafted? I don%u2019t know. I'm not equivocating, only addressing that it is a hypothetical. To a hypothetical, I can answer, sure I'd fight. But I have nightmares of battle (from my past life as a Jacobite). So how do I feel toward those who do volunteer? Impressed and maturely knowing that many things go into their decision. But I do strongly believe that a country that can't find those men is doomed. The fact that we can find them is one reason why I say there is no failure in Iraq. Objectively, I also believe it for other reasons. An attempt to establish democracy in the Middle East is a bold, brilliant, noble effort, facing a high chance of failure. That's why I greatly respect and admire those who have made the attempt--the Bush administration. They have been resolute, something I have not seen in my lifetime. They may not succeed, for reasons outside their control or fault: traitors on the home front, being a big one. But now those traitors have apparently occupied the high ground. Yet... we're still in Iraq. Why?... I'm waiting.

[agnim]

"you have been entirely too dismissive of the Litvinenko murder"

alphaa10 at 02:35 PM : Nov 27, 2006

And why not be 'dismissive' of the ALLEGED 'murder', Apphaa?

Haven't we enough murders of our own individual citizens to contend with here?
Do we really need to go abroad and be concerned with individual murders in britain? Not!

And even if this guy was a spy who can never 'come in from the cold', those killer spies are reported to have murdered many people and get away with all the time? We are talking SPY here, not angel! Let's keep perspective, OK. LOL

No doubt this spy was a murderer himself. And so he got part of the usual spy karma; what's the big deal?

Kill and be killed is the name of the spy game from what we can understand of the murky and murderous world of spies, yes?

[alphaa10-2009]

Agent 90210 confided, "This forum has been hijacked by morons..."
---

Which clearly explains his interest in posting...

[tinker3478]

Bushie is a nut-bucket too so it is a shame he is unable to do more than paste. His comments might be worthwhile.

[wbiinc1]

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