More cases of polonium-210 contamination are uncovered in London

The investigation into the death of the former Russian intelligence officer Alexander Litvinenko has uncovered further cases of contamination with the radioactive isotope polonium-210, and police believe that they are now close to identifying the suspected poisoners. But the chances of a criminal prosecution look slim in the face of a refusal from Russia to extradite any suspects named by British police.

Traces of polonium-210 were last week found at the Pescatori restaurant in Mayfair, while two more people tested positive for contamination with the substance, bringing the total to 12.

The UK Health Protection Agency, which is advising authorities on technical aspects of the case, characterises the contamination in all 12 cases as “not significant enough to result in any illness in the short term,” while “any increased risk in the long term is likely to be very small.” The Pescatori restaurant has been declared safe and has reopened for business.

One of the new cases involves a customer who attended the Pine Bar of the Millennium Hotel, Mayfair, on 1 November 2006, the day that Mr Litvinenko fell ill. Eight of the 12 people who have now shown signs of exposure to polonium-210 were workers at the hotel. A teacup at the hotel was also found to be contaminated.

The other new case involves a hotel worker at the Best Western Hotel in Piccadilly. One of three Russian men who met Mr Litvinenko at the Pine Bar had previously stayed there.

The other cases of contamination found to date are Mr Litvinenko’s widow, Marina, and a hotel worker at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel. That hotel was also previously used by one of the men who met Mr Litvinenko at the Pine Bar.

Two of those men, the former KGB officer Andrei Lugovoi and former army officer Dmitri Kovtun, have tested positive for polonium-210 contamination in Moscow, and both have received medical treatment. Early reports that Mr Kovtun was in a coma later proved false.

Traces of the isotope have also been found on a passport photograph submitted by Mr Kovtun in a German residency application made before Mr Litvinenko’s poisoning and on British Airways aircraft that fly the London-Moscow route.

Both Mr Kovtun and Mr Lugovoi have been interviewed by British police in Russia, but Russian authorities have forbidden further interviews by British investigators. Moscow has also said that no Russian will be extradited, should Britain lay charges.

The two men deny involvement in Mr Litvinenko’s death. So does the Russian government, describing a deathbed accusation of President Putin levelled by Mr Litvinenko as “nonsense.”

Fears of polonium-210 contamination have led thousands of people to contact the NHS Direct helpline, particularly after the news that small traces had been found on British Airways aircraft. However, none of the 1700 passengers who contacted the NHS showed signs of exposure. Most of the 250 people believed to have been at the Pine Bar on 1 November have been tested and cleared.

The Health Protection Agency is currently recommending that anyone who attended the Millennium Hotel’s Pine Bar between 31 October 31 and 2 November should contact NHS Direct.