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Two Constables Contaminated with Polonium
News of the World, salt required.TWO detective constables were face an agonising ordeal after dramatically testing positive for polonium-210. Both the Scotland Yard officers have been working on the Alexander Litvinenko case for the last two weeks. One was the Litvinenko's Family Liaison Officer. He spent time with Litvinenko, below, in hospital when he first became ill. It was not known then that the former Russian agent had been poisoned with the radioactive material. He has also been with Litvinenko's wife Marina who has also tested positive along with other relatives. It is believed the second detective was contaminated when he carried several pieces of evidence from the Litvinenko home. He was taking it to a police van to be sent for forensic testing. The pair have been put on sick leave on full pay. A source said: "The two officers are terrified and upset. ... They have been told that as a result of being infected the chance of them contracting cancer has been increased, albeit by a small amount. "But that is still a pretty devastating thing to be told. The families will now also be tested." Yard bosses are said to be furious that the Health Protection Agency did not give officers on the case training or tell them what to wear during the probe. The source said: "There is some disquiet. They feel the HPA have not got a strong grip on what the risks are. The advice is changing and they do not have total confidence in what they are told." In a statement Scotland Yard last night confirmed two officers had been contaminated. It said 26 officers were tested, adding: "Two samples showed small traces of polonium." Posted by: Steve White 2006-12-10 |
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