Spy death: Radiation traces found in Berezovsky office
The offices of an exiled billionaire were sealed off tonight as police investigating the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko found traces of a deadly radioactive substance.
Evidence of polonium 210 were found in the London office of his friend, the tycoon Boris Berezovsky.
Police also sealed off the headquarters of an international security company visited by Mr Litvinenko after finding traces of the substance.
Scotland Yard said traces of the substance were found at 7 Down Street and 25 Grosvenor Street, as they continued to probe Mr Litvinenko’s death from radiation poisoning on Thursday evening.
A “significant quantity” of polonium 210 was found in Mr Litvinenko’s urine following extensive tests by forensic toxicologists.
The new finds come after traces of the substance were also detected at the Itsu sushi restaurant in Piccadilly, the Millennium Hotel in Grosvenor Square - both visited by Mr Litvinenko – as well as his home in Muswell Hill, north London.
Three people have also been sent for radiological tests as a precautionary measure following the radiation poisoning of Mr Litvinenko, Home Secretary John Reid said today.
Mr Litvinenko, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died from radiation poisoning last Thursday night.
Scotland Yard said only that traces of polonium 210 had been found at offices at 7 Down Street and 25 Grosvenor Street but Mr Litvinenko’s friend Alex Goldfarb confirmed tonight that the address in Down Street was the office of Mr Berezovsky.
Erinys also confirmed tonight that Mr Litvinenko had visited its offices in Grosvenor Street.
