Jan 05 2007

Another Polonium-210 Site Found In London

This has been a bad week for Londoners and those who visited the city last October. After a 4th hotel was implicated in the Po-210 trail and smuggling recently we find today another restaurant is added to the sites where Po-210 was tracked.

An Italian restaurant in Mayfair is the latest location to be contaminated with the radioactive element that killed the Russian former spy Alexander Litvinenko, it was disclosed today.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said polonium-210 had been discovered at the Pescatori Restaurant in Dover Street.

Staff there are being offered urine tests to see if they have been contaminated.

The restaurant is believed to be among the locations visited by three Russian men who met Mr Litvinenko at the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair on the day he fell ill.

The fact that urine tests are being proposed indicates the contamination may not have been a minor ‘spot’ as authorities have described much of the trail. Of note is the comment about three Russian men who met Litvinenko at the Millenium Hotel. Two of these men are Andre Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun. The third person may be Sokolenko and it may be a yet identified 4th Russian.

But what is really key here is the timeline again. Recall that the meeting at the Millenium Hotel’s Pine Bar between Lugovoi, Litvinenko and Kovtun was late in the afternoon just before Lugovoi, his family and Kovtun left to watch the CSKA-Arsenal soccer game. There was no time for a trip after the Pine Bar to go to an Italian Restaurant. The last line reads “The restaurant is believed to be among the locations visited by three Russian men who met Mr Litvinenko at the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair on the day he fell ill.”. This visit was on November 1st. It was not before the game and I doubt it was after the game (but it could have been). The interesting thing here is if it was where these three had lunch. Recall the Litvinenko had a meeting sometime before he met Scaramella at the Itsu sushi restaurant at 3:00 PM. Litvinenko then supposedly left Scaramella a little before 4:00 PM and dropped by Berezovsky’s office (though this is in dispute and tought to see time-wise) before going to the Pine Bar.

My theory has been Litvinenko met Lugovoi before lunch, picking him up at his room (since Lugovoi’s family was off sight seeing). Sokolenko was off sight seeing with his family. Lugovoi was to go on business meetings with Kovtun. Lugovoi and Litvinenko and, at times, Kovtun visited UK security firms when Lugovoi was in town. Three of these firms have shown signs of the Polonium-210 trail. I suspect the morning meetings for Lugovoi and Kovtun did include Litvinenko. And it was before or after these meetings Litvinenko was in Lugovoi’s room where the massive ‘spill’ of Po-210 occurred. Litvinenko went on to have lunch with Scaramella. And it would make sense Lugovoi and Kovtun decided to get something to eat as well – and they went to this restaurant. The timing here is very important because if Litvinenko was not honest with police about his whereabouts then it would indicate he knew (or suspected) what was the root cause of his illness. And if he knew and was trying to cover his tracks and protect the others then we have a clear indication something other than assassination was going on.

Just a side note. I have heard that Litvinenko may have been the one who sugested the Hospital check for Thallium poisoning. If that is true then it is possible the Thallium was a deliberate ruse to throw everyone off the Po-210 trail. Is it possible Litvinenko ingested a non-lethal dose of Thallium to provide a cover story for his medical treatment? There are strong indications that Litvinenko and others went out of their way to hide some of the key events in this drama. If it is determined Litvinenko tried to cover his tracks, then we should assume he tried as hard, and in as many ways as he could think of, hiding his tracks.

Also, another thing to note is the fact that the Scaramella investigation is exposing a side of Litvinenko which calls into question his credibility. Apparently it is coming to light that Litvinenko lied for Scaramella for money.

According to Maxim’s testimony, one of the last things he did for Scaramella was sit down in front of a video camera last spring in Rome and repeat an accusation that Prodi may have had ties to Russian intelligence.

Litvinenko sought assurances that the video would not be leaked to the press, and warned that he personally knew nothing about Prodi, Maxim told investigators.

But then, cameras rolling, Litvinenko said former FSB deputy chief Anatoly Trofimov warned him in 2000 that he should not move to Italy because Prodi was “one of their men”.

“My brother said he didn’t have any documents against Prodi or other Italian authorities,” Maxim told investigators.

“He said only that he had spoken with a general from the Russian secret services … (who) responded that in Italy there was Prodi, then-president of the European Commission, who was one of their men.”

Maxim said he was paid 200 euros (135 pounds) cash to translate on the day Scaramella recorded the video. Scaramella paid Litvinenko 500-600 euros to cover travel expenses.

If this is also proven to be accurate (and much of this is coming from Litvinenko’s own brother) I think it would be dangerous to take Litvinenko at his word. And the idea he was naive enough to think his false claims could be kept out of the media demonstrates Litvinenko was not the sharpest of dissidents. If he was working for Berezovsky and knew he probably faced death, what deals would he make to ensure his family was taken care of? If he would lie for a small sum of money, what would he die for?

Here is the announcement from HPA on the latest contamination site. Note ‘remediation’ was required. In other words they had to clean up the contamination, it was not safe.

Update:: It seems the restaurant is a popular location for Russian emigres and visitors:

The manager of Pescatori, Luigi Lavarini, told BBC television: “We have
no memory of Mr Litvinenko coming to the restaurant. We really don’t know who it could be.”

Asked about Lugovoy and Kovtun he replied: “This name doesn’t mean anything to me. Nobody of this name appears on our reservation list.”

He said the restaurant had lots of Russian customers.

Wonder who else likes to dine there?

Major Update:: It seems the Pescatori restaurant is a haunt of Alex Goldfarb and Boris Berezovsky [translated by Yahoo]:

The close relations of Alexandre Litvinenko are persuaded that poisoning was orchestrated by the Kremlin.

IT IS ALMOST eleven hours of the evening, day before yesterday, when the portable of Alexandre Goldfarb, spokesman of Russian ex-spy Alexandre Litvinenko, sounds in the Pescatori restaurant, with two steps of the hospital University College, in London. Boris Berezovski, celebrates it deposed oligarch who contributed to the election of Vladimir Putin before being forced with the London exile in 2000, is at the end of the wire. Goldfarb listens, then turns to the scenario writer Andreï Nekrassov, another member of the circle brought closer to the ex-spy, who fades. ” Sacha died”, announces it calmly.

So Alex Goldfarb was with the media (nice PR move there) at this restaurant when he got the news about Litvinenko from Berezovsky. What a strange coincidence. Here is another translation from German.

42 responses so far

42 Responses to “Another Polonium-210 Site Found In London”

  1. crosspatch says:

    “what do I do when I find an alpha particle – call 911?”

    No. Actually alpha emitters are all around us. Just not a LOT of alpha particles.

  2. crosspatch says:

    Actually, polonium is all around us. If you have a basement that isn’t well ventilated you can probably spot some alpha particles from polonium decay.

    natural uranium -> radon -> polonium -> lead

  3. Gotta Know says:

    Crosspatch one more question: Why do we need polonium to detonate an atomic device? Could it be done without it? (I realize this is probably worth 5 pages but a summary paragraph would be great)

    thanks

  4. AJStrata says:

    Gotta Know,

    Without going into detail you need something to start the chain reaction inside the Uranium or Plutonium core. That can be a combination of heat and explosives. This is called the ‘trigger’. Early A-bomb triggers were Beryllium and Polonium-210. But their shelf life was about a year or so because the Po-210 turns to led and so they use more exotic materials with a much longer shelf life.

    AJStrata

  5. Retired Spook says:

    This is going to make a hell of a movie someday.

    Gotta Know, ya “gotta hope” we all live long enough to see it made into a movie.

  6. Gotta Know says:

    Thanks AJ. I have read some accounts in which the author claimed that polonium 210 was necessary for suitcase nukes, presumably because PO is more efficient than the alternatives. I also suppose that if you’re trying to get the job done you take what you can get. I wonder if PO is more readily available than alternatives–and more “smuggle-able.”

    Retired Spook, we’ll be around. I have often viewed the struggle in the context of the “hundredth monkey,” that is, which side will attain critical mass and effectively gain the ability to snuff out the other. The battle is much harder than the left would ever acknowledge but, irony aside, I think god is on our side, or more appropriately perhaps, we are on the side of god.

  7. Gotta Know says:

    Seems to me Berezovsky has given us a smoking gun. He reportedly told a reporter in January of last year that he was “working on overthrowing administration of Vladimir Putin by force.”

    10 months later we are finding a polonium smuggling trail leading right to him. I’m walking back my cat, that’s what he was doing. We can’t rule out other scenarios, but this is the simplest, and one that fits the available evidence.

  8. Barbara says:

    I don’t see Berezovsky saddling up to AQ, not with his Israeli citizenship and comfortable station in the UK

    Bereszovsky is probably bored out of his mind. He is used to power and action and it is hard to give up being in charge or the power behind the scenes. I imagine it would be very hard to be a power in his own country and a nonenity in a foreign country where no one listens to him or asks for his advice. All this PR is a last ditch effort to turn adversity into success.

    I doubt that his Israeli citizenship enters into the equation at all. He is probably an atheist most Russians are. They were not allowed to be anything else. The Israeli citizenship is probably only a cushion in case it was ever needed.

  9. Gotta Know says:

    I think you’re right, Barbara. In the UK he’s just another billionaire. So he was on his way to stirring things up.

  10. Lizarde1 says:

    The simplest explanation is the best so far – Berzovsky was up to no good and this was all some how part of his plan for his great future as The Oligarch Czar (masquarading as Liberal Democrat) in Russia – and the immediate PR campaign that began as Litvinenko lay dying is pretty strong evidence that this is the case. This is really a frightening scenario – to think one rich guy could start the cold war or worse all over again by blaming Putin and bringing him down and causing untold chaos in Russia, Chechnya and who knows where else in the former Soviet Union while his so called coup was going on – and this is why I think the Chechens were part of this mix – they have a vested interest in the fall of Putin and could really have a field day if Putin fell. And to think this guy is a buddy of Ted Turner – next we’ll have Jane Fonda marrying Berezovsky to become the new czarina.

  11. mariposa says:

    Litvinenko inquiry closes in on suspected killers

    Detectives are close to identifying the suspected killers of Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian agent, but it looks increasingly likely that the alleged assassins will escape prosecution.

    http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article2129960.ece

  12. tempester says:

    I dont think AQ is a part of this picture, not everything that happens in the world is about them – though i am sure they would like it to be!

  13. Lizarde1 says:

    as we suspected – minus the word “attack”: (from Independent article above)
    Scotland Yard officers are also investigating whether the former spy was first poisoned with polonium-210 several days earlier than previously reported. Investigators believe Mr Litvinenko may have been contaminated twice, with the second attack taking place at a central London hotel several days after the first “hit”.

  14. Lizarde1 says:

    also from above article though this article is not sourced:
    t emerged yesterday that traces of polonium-210, were found at a restaurant that is understood to have been used by at least one of the suspects – Andrei Lugovoi.

    only sourced statement: “The odds of getting someone to face trial at the Old Bailey are somewhere between slim and none,” said a senior police source.

    and more:
    Toxicology results from Mr Litvinenko’s post-mortem examination revealed two “spikes” of radiation poisoning, suggesting he received two separate doses. The second attack is almost certain to have taken place at the Pine Bar of the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair. Eight hotel staff have tested positive for polonium-210. So has a tea cup.

  15. Lizarde1 says:

    It looks like according to the Independent’s account anyway that they are blaming Lugovoi and Kovton or somebody else now in Russia – the easy way out?

  16. likbez says:

    Lizarde1,

    IMHO most of the “new” information are just old rehashed disinformation from Lord Bell. Independent story has a credibility divider of at least 32 (2^5) by proposed earlier “litmus test”:

    1. It contains classic “former spy” trick ( “Scotland Yard officers are also investigating whether the former spy” ) and that inflict on the story the first credibility downgrade. Litvinenko was a police criminal investigator of Russian mafia and prison guard who was transferred to FSB and was fired partly because of his attempt to protect Beresovsky partly because of accusation of improper methods of interrogation and brutality with prisoners.

    2. The quote “Two Russian businessmen, one a former KGB officer” is a weaker variant of the same and formally true while in reality being a blatant misstatement of fact (classic omission is that at the same time Andrei Lugovoi was long time Beresovky’s bodyguard and even served prison sentence for an operation to free one of his boss business partners).

    3. “The Russian authorities are known to have been obstructive when nine British detectives traveled to Moscow last month to investigate the murder.” Known by whom ? By Lord Bell? It looks like Russians took this story to hart and even open investigation of their own which coordinated with British and German investigations by Interpol. At least they made an attempt to link Nevslin to the story as he might be the oligarch targeted by Litvinenko. This might be wrong but at least they are doing something.

    4. “Before his death, he blamed Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, and his regime for the murder – an accusation that has been strongly denied by the Kremlin” Like it was noted here for a person on respirator even couple of words are difficult and such lengthy poetic accusation of Putin completely lacks credibility.

    5. “The second attack is almost certain to have taken place at the Pine Bar of the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair. Eight hotel staff have tested positive for polonium-210. So has a tea cup.” Almost certain to whom ? This bar story is probably the most bizarre in the whole chain of events. As was discussed here is this was a salt it is untraceable and cannot affect visitors. If this was a metal ( and a lot of metal) then either they brought it intentionally in order traces later to be detected (operation “Polonium freedom” as this hypothesis can be called), or it was all over their clothing. In both cases it is unclear how they managed to affect visitors and bartenders to the extent that the urine test became positive (BTW it would be interesting to know if affected persons were at the same time heavy smokers). “Body fluids” hypothesis does not work.

    The only really new fact is that Scaramella essentially controlled Litvinenko. And Scaramella has some links to radioactive materials handing in the past.

  17. Gotta Know says:

    Likbez! There you are!

    I would like your opinion:

    –On what kind of man Berezovsky was, in a paragraph. Is he a Russian patriot, or sociopathic opportunist (or blend)?

    –Assuming he was the locus for the smuggling operation, what do you imagine he was doing? Is it old news that he has been plotting the armed overthrow of the Putin government?

    –Do you agree with several commenters (including myself) that his relationship with the Chechnens was one of convenience rather than ideologically based?

    Thanks.

  18. misanthropic says:

    Death of a Spy
    The poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko with polonium 210 is probably the strangest concept yet. To use a substance that kills slowly and can only be obtained by well-connected intelligence personal of nuclear capable countries is indeed a bazaar concept.

    The choice of polonium 210 as a poison has and important message and a duel approach. It propagates the fear of nuclear technology and points the poisoning directly at a government agency. The blame has been pointed directly at Russia and the Israeli nemesis Putin. Many more strange comments have been put forward and this statement from an IAEA spokesman is just one:

    “More than anything, the death of the London-based former KGB spy has placed Russia’s still thriving trade in radioactive material under scrutiny. ‘From the terrorism threat standpoint, these cases are of little concern but they show security vulnerabilities at facilities,”

    This odd statement has left me perplex over what the thriving trade might be for, as radioactive isotopes do not make good mantel ornaments.
    How this thriving trade could not be a threat within the context of terrorism is mind-boggling.

    There is clearly an over hyped threat of trafficking in radioactive elements and if the trade dose occur it is only within government agencies.

    The UK Guardian Sunday 26 November it a prime example of the unfounded gossip mill telling us of 300 cases of smuggle radioactive material in the last 4 years. The article then sights an

    “ incident, in the remote west of former Soviet Georgia, a group of woodsmen found two capsules of the material which was emitting heat in a forest. They used them to keep warm at night but soon developed acute radiation sickness. The capsules turned out to be the highly radioactive strontium 90 core of a nuclear generator from a long abandoned aircraft navigation beacon. “

    This incident highlights that if there was a lucrative trade in this material it was pretty useless.
    The capsules would not of been abandoned in the first place or would have been recovered by those knowing its whereabouts for future sale. The article fails to explain that the Russia army was called in to clean up the incident all material from that seen has been recovered and is presently in safe storage. If this is the best evidence of the thriving nuclear trade that the mainstream press can find it shows evidence of how undercover this trade is. It again seems strange that this trade would allow such a messy affair in the Litvinenko assassination risking the exposure of this alleged network of atomic playboys.

    As you can see this line of thinking seems a little silly so lets examine how this assassination was of any benefit to the Kremlin. The damage that Litvinenko posed to the Russians was minimal and his story of Anna Politkovskaya assassination would have at best accounted for a 30 second spot on the evening news even on his deathbed he could not give us the hard evidence that Russia was involved in that assassination.

    The killing of Litvinenko could have been achieved far more cleanly with a large variety of poisons that the Russian have, a doss of tetrodotoxin from the Japanese puffer fish administered at the Japanese restaurant he attended would have been far more 007 throwing the conspiracy peoples into confusion and would of prevented the finger pointing at Russian government involvement.
    Polonium 210 was the worst possible poison for the Russia government to use.
    His friends insisted that he had been poisoned on Nov. 1, perhaps during or after two meetings in London — one in a hotel, the other at a Japanese restaurant all these meetings were with anti Putin activists and Italian NATO agents. Again you would think it in Russias best interests to poison all at the meetings stopping all possibility of the expositor of the alleged devastating evidence of Russian involvement in Anna Politkovskaya death.
    It is far more logical that a person that attended that meeting poisoned Litvinenko, as they were all anti Putin the evidence points to anti Russian assassins.
    The result of this poisoning seems to have been and anti Putin, anti Russian rhetoric and a mission accomplished.

    Misanthropic wondered why Americans were so arrogant that they had forgotten it is the meek that inherit the earth.