Met take Litvinenko investigation to Moscow
Met officals will be carrying out further investigations in the Russian capital
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Monday, 04, Dec 2006 03:10
The investigation into the death of former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko is being taken to Moscow.
Controversy has surrounded the death of Mr Litvinenko who died in a London hospital in November, following radiation poisoning with the substance polonium-210. On his deathbed the former spy claimed that Russian president Vladimir Putin was responsible, sparking debate over the circumstances of his death.
It has been confirmed that ongoing investigations into the case are to be taken to Moscow. Announcing these developments, home secretary John Reid said: "The police will follow wherever this investigation leads inside or outside of Britain. That will continue over the next few days.
"This investigation will proceed as normal, whatever the diplomatic or whatever the wider considerations," he added.
Reports state that a team of nine officers from Scotland Yard's counter terrorism unit have today travelled to Moscow to pursue investigations.
It has not been confirmed who Met officials are seeking to interview, but possibilities include ex-Russian intelligence chief Mikhail Trepashkin and Andrei Lugovoi, another former KGB officer who met Mr Litvinenko on the day of his alleged poisoning.
Mr Trepashkin recently put himself forward as a witness in the case and has claimed that Mr Litvinenko was one of a number of people targeted for assassination.
Italian professor Mario Scaramella was also one of the last people to see Mr Litvinenko before he fell will when they met for lunch at a central London restaurant on November 1st.
Staff at London's University College hospital, where the ex-KGB agent died, say that Mr Scaramella is doing well despite also testing positive for polonium-210 last week.