Radiation Found On Two British Flights, Twelve Different Sites

A third jet is being closely examined. The good news, I guess, is that radioactive toxins are now pretty decisively no longer effective as secret poisons.

A link with one of the Russians he met:

The investigation into the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko has spread to 33,000 British Airways passengers after radioactive traces were found on aircraft.

Experts found low levels of radioactive traces on two aircraft at Heathrow airport and were preparing to examine a third in Moscow, the airline said.
...

The airline said in a statement: "British Airways has been advised that three of its Boeing 767 short haul aircraft have been identified by the UK government as part of the investigation into the death of Alexander Litvinenko.

...

Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said: "It appears that after Mr Litvinenko met the Italian Scaramella for lunch on November 1 he met two Russians.

"At least one of them flew back to Moscow on November 3."

Those who read much into the radiation traces found at Berezovsky's offices also need to explain these traces, I think.

A former Russian Prime Minister fell ill as well:

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, low levels of radiation have been found on two BA jets connected to the case.

A third is being held in Moscow until it is safe for it to return.

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 the all clear.

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.

A spokesman said they were being examined because "individuals involved in the Litvinenko case" had travelled on them.

...

It has been suggested polonium 210 could be present in other locations because it leaked from a container or was present in people's bodily fluids.

That's not definitive, but I take from that that one can in fact sweat out some Polonium, or carry it around after touching someone else who's sweating it out.

Update: Indirect Link Between Gaidar and Litvinenko Poisoining: Well, I mean a direct link between the men.

The only reported link between Mr Gaidar and Mr Litvinenko is another ex-KGB spy, Andrei Lugovoy, who once served as Mr Gaidar’s bodyguard and met Mr Litvinenko on the day he was allegedly poisoned.

posted by Ace at 03:36 PM

| Access Comments