Radiation Traces Found On U.K. Planes

(CBS/AP)  Authorities found traces of radiation on two British Airways jetliners, and the airline appealed Wednesday to tens of thousands of passengers who flew the aircraft to or from Moscow to come forward as investigators widened the search for clues into the poisoning death of a former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.

Meanwhile, an Italian security expert who was one of the last people to meet with the former KGB agent who fell fatally ill said Wednesday that tests cleared him of radioactive contamination.

The airline said the "risk to public health is low," adding that it was in the process of contacting tens of thousands of passengers who flew on the jets.

Two planes at London's Heathrow Airport tested positive for traces of radiation and a third plane has been taken out of service in Moscow awaiting examination, British Airways said in a statement.

The airline said it was contacted by the British government Tuesday night and told to ground the planes and allow investigators looking into Litvinenko's death to test them for radiation.

All three planes had been on the London-Moscow route, British Airways said. In the last three weeks, the planes had also traveled to routes across Europe including Barcelona, Frankfurt and Athens. Around 30,000 passengers had traveled on 220 flights on those planes, said Kate Gay, an airline spokeswoman.

"The airline is in the process of making contact with customers who have traveled on flights operated by these aircraft, which operate within Europe," British Airways said in a statement.

"British Airways understands that from advice it has been given that the risk to public health is low," the airline's statement said.

The airline has published the flights affected on its Web site, and told customers on these flights to contact a special help-line set up by the British Health Ministry.

High doses of polonium-210 — a rare radioactive element usually manufactured in specialized nuclear facilities — were found in Litvinenko's body, and traces of radiation have been found at sites in London connected with the

investigation of his death

.

Mario Scaramella came from Rome to meet with Litvinenko at a sushi bar in London on Nov. 1 — the day the former intelligence agent first reported the symptoms that ultimately led to his death in a hospital's intensive care ward.

In a deathbed accusation, the harsh Kremlin critic blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for his poisoning. Putin has strongly denied the charge.

"I am fine," Scaramella told The Associated Press by telephone. "I am not contaminated and have not contaminated anybody else."

Scaramella returned to London to undergo tests and talk with the police Tuesday. He said he is in security protection and refused to say where he was.

More than three dozen staff at the two hospitals that treated Litvinenko will be tested for radioactive contamination, Britain's Health Protection Agency said.

The agency said 106 staff at Barnet General Hospital and University College Hospital had been assessed for possible exposure, and 49 would have their urine tested.

The mysterious death has clouded Anglo-Russian relations. Prime Minister Tony Blair said Tuesday that nothing political or diplomatic will stop the police investigation, CBS Radio News correspondent Larry Miller reports.

"I think people should know that there is no diplomatic or political barrier in the way of that investigation," Blair told reporters during a trip to Copenhagen, Denmark. "It is obviously a very, very serious matter indeed. We are determined to find out what happened and who is responsible."

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[alphaa10-2009]

Bob_Burd said, "I have no doubt that there are thousands of warheads stashed away somewhere to be used for this purpose, maybe already primed and ready to roll..."
---

The specter of "recycled" warheads was the nightmare of armaments control officials under Clinton and Bush, post-Cold War. Formerly well-paid Soviet technocrats knew how to obtain access to germ warfare labs and weapons-grade nuclear material, and our security dangled by a thread.

One of the wisest actions Clinton ever took was to authorize regular "maintenance" payments to these personnel and create better security for the old installations.

We have few details about how that program of assistance has worked out, but can presume there are leaks in every system. The problem is only one leak is required for a disaster.

The only consolation is, had the Iranians been that eager to acquire a nuclear weapon and had bought some of the Cold War contraband, why have they gone to such risk with their own uranium purification program? The Iranian program indicates the nuclear material has not diffused as widely as some fear-- but I would not want to bet all of it is contained.

[grazinggoat]

A bit of radioactivity, bushducks...
Would I send my wife to this war? You might ask would I send her to WW-II? Or Vietnam? Maybe you would distinguish those conflicts and whether you would send your wife to fight in them. But that question is directed in a very important way: I cannot command my wife, she does me. I have no choice. So the better question would be: would I, BushDucks21, volunteer to fight in Iraq, WW II, Vietnam? Would I volunteer BushDucks21 to fight in any war? Respond if drafted? I don%u2019t know. To a hypothetical question, I can answer, NO. And I have nightmares of battle (from my past life as a Hamburgerbite). 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 women is doomed. The fact that we can find them is one reason why I say there is a failure in Iraq. Objectively, I also believe it for other reasons. An attempt to establish theocracy in the Middle East is a poor, ailing, dispecable effort, for sure a failure. That's why I greatly disrespect and shame those who have made the attempt--the Walkig-Liar administration. They have been resolute, something I have not seen in my lifetime. They may not succeed, for reasons within their control or fault: traitors on the home front being a big one. Now we traitors have apparently occupied the high ground. Yet... we're still in Iraq. Why?...I'm waiting, and for longtime.
bushducks1

Everyone of us that owns a smoke detector has some kind of radiation in our homes, there is a small radioactive chip inside each one, (take one apart and see for yourself) its not enough to hurt you but enough that it can be detected. they never did say what the level was

[nothappyatall]

Wrongo, this guy was an ex KGB SPY, he built up a repertoir of enemies in his career and one of them decided he had to go bye bye, so he did.

[bob_burd]

It's just a little germ warfare litmus test, ordered by Soviet President Putin to test the waters....the results are in and he is likely very pleased.

Now he'll put his scientists to work researching ways to use these positive results in designing a major attack. Islamic terrorists like Hezbollah, supported by Iran and Syria, will likely be the pawns used to undertake a large-scale attack, likely on Israel.

I have no doubt that there are thousands of warheads stashed away somewhere to be used for this purpose, maybe already primed and ready to roll. They just have to teach the Hezbollah goons to properly aim a rocket first.

Selah