Police: Litvinenko was murdered
Mario Scaramella met Alexander Litvinenko at the Itsu sushi bar
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Wednesday, 06, Dec 2006 07:27
Detectives have revealed that the death of Alexander Litvinenko is now being treated as a murder investigation.
The former Russian spy died in London last month after traces of radioactive isotope polonium-210 (po-210) were found in his body.
Nine officers from the Metropolitan police's counter-terrorist unit are currently in Moscow investigating Mr Litvinenko's death, and a force statement tonight said the detectives were "pursuing many lines of inquiry, both in the UK and Russia, and have spoken to a number of witnesses in connection with the death".
Detectives both home and abroad are keeping an "open mind" the statement added, as well as "methodically following the evidence".
The Met emphasised however that no conclusions had been reached regarding the method, the motive or the identity of the killer in Mr Litvinenko's death.
"The inquiry is still in its early stages and we are not prepared to comment on speculative reports in the media," the statement added.
The admission from police follows the revelation earlier today that the British embassy in Moscow had tested positive for very low levels of a radioactive substance.
Several rooms in the building were tested after retired former KGB bodyguard Andrei Lugovoi visited the embassy to deny any involvement in Mr Litvinenko's death.
Mr Lugovoi and a business colleague are reported to have been among the last people to see the former KGB chief before he fell ill in a London meeting at the beginning of November.
Meanwhile, Mario Scaramella, the Italian contact who had lunch with Mr Litvinenko at a London sushi bar the same day he fell ill was today discharged from hospital after doctors became satisfied he was showing no symptoms of radiation toxicity.
Mr Litvinenko claimed on his deathbed that he had been poisoned on the orders of Russian president Vladimir Putin, claims vigorously denied by the Kremlin.