The unknown assassin who killed Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian spy, appeared last night to have claimed a second victim after tests revealed that one of the dead man's associates had been poisoned with the same radioactive isotope, polonium-210. Mario Scaramella was found to have ingested a potentially fatal dose of the substance and was being treated at a London hospital last night.The Italian self-styled security consultant says he flew to London last month to warn Mr Litvinenko that both their lives were at risk. At a meeting at a West End sushi restaurant he claims he gave the Russian a document which named five people on a hitlist allegedly drawn up by Russian intelligence officers. Mr Scaramella's urine was tested after he returned to London this week following Mr Litvinenko's death. The Guardian has been told that the amount of polonium-210 discovered in the Russian's body could have killed him 100 times over, and would have cost as much as £20m to acquire. While the amount detected in Mr Scaramella's body is considerably less, it presents a grave threat to his health. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said "high quantities" of polonium-210 had been found. "The quantities are such that they are likely to be of concern for his immediate health," a spokesman said.
Scientists advising police believe it is possible he was poisoned at the same time as the former spy, who complained of feeling ill shortly after the meeting at the Itsu sushi restaurant in Piccadilly on November 1. Mr Litvinenko ate fish, while the Italian only drank a glass of water. Since his voluntary return to the UK last Monday, Mr Scaramella, 36, has been under the protection of Scotland Yard detectives and has been having a debriefing at Ashford Park Hotel near Forest Row, East Sussex, part of which was sealed off last night. He was tested for poisoning at the request of Scotland Yard.
| More at the Times of London. |