RUSSIA: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 of their lives were at risk.
At a meeting at a central London sushi restaurant, he claims he gave the Russian a document that 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. It has been reported 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 $40 million (€30 million) to acquire.
The amount detected in Mr Scaramella's body is considerably less. He is currently well and showing no signs of poisoning.
However, the UK Health Protection Agency 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 1st. 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.
In a telephone call shortly after 1pm yesterday, he said he had been cleared of any wrongdoing, and hoped to be back in Italy by the weekend. He also said he had been undergoing tests, adding: "I'm clear of contamination."
Less than an hour later he was learning that he had, in fact, suffered potentially fatal radiation poisoning. Last night he was being treated at University College Hospital, where Mr Litvinenko died nine days ago. The hospital is expected to test his white blood cell count and will be taking measures to reduce any risk of infection.
At another London hospital yesterday three pathologists donned protective suits to carry out a postmortem examination on Mr Litvinenko's body.
Police have found traces of polonium-210 at a dozen locations in London, including Mr Litvinenko's home in Muswell Hill, two luxury hotels, and two British Airways 767s that had been flying to and from Moscow.
By examining hotel records, immigration files and CCTV images - and by discovering traces of radioactivity at an address that Mr Litvinenko did not visit - police are believed to have built up a detailed picture of how the isotope may have been smuggled into the country. It is thought that detectives may also have some idea who gave it to the former spy.
British security and intelligence officials say the perpetrators were probably former Russian security agents, or members of a criminal gang linked to them. They also say that only a "state" institution would have access to polonium-210.
They insist there is no evidence of the involvement of the Russian government, which has issued repeated denials and said it was prepared to co-operate fully with Scotland Yard.
The Kremlin's deputy spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said yesterday that Russia produced polonium at only one city, which is closed to foreigners, and kept strict controls on the eight grammes it exports to American companies each month. "It is completely impossible for nuclear materials to be stolen and smuggled," he said.
José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, voiced his concern about the case yesterday. "We have a problem with Russia. In fact, we have several problems. Too many people have been killed and we don't know who killed them."
Meanwhile, a female adult relative of Mr Litvinenko has been exposed to radioactive polonium- 210 but is not in any short-term danger, British officials said last night. Home secretary John Reid told Sky News: "It is a fraction of the lethal dose that Mr Litvinenko himself had."