Russians 'set up hit squad to kill London dissidents' - LIVE THREAD

The Evening Standard ^ | December 1, 2006 | Staff

[MadIvan]

What a surprise.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[sissyjane]

Just reported on FOX that an adult member of Litvinenko's family tested positive for a small amount of radiation, as well, a hotel is being evacuated for radiation testing.

[theFIRMbss]

>A secret assassination squad was set up to poison former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, it was claimed today

If they wanted to
keep the whole thing secret then
why not just hit him

with a car?! People
get run over all the time . . .
Why use fairy dust?!

[MadIvan]

This is very messy stuff they used. Fortunately it's only harmful if directly ingested - however, I'm not pleased with whoever (and it seems likely it's the FSB) dumped radioactive poisons on my country.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Because a car hitting someone could be construed as an accident - this is a message from the Russian government to dissidents, potentially, which says no matter where you are, no matter what you do, we can get you.

Regards, Ivan

[CottShop]

not if you leave a bumper sticker on the victim that reads 'KGB'

[GarySpFc]

Yes, and I just received the following:

"Brits are reporting traces of Polonium in Zakaev's car."

[Dog]

Call me contrary... I'm still not convinced it was an operation by the Russian government....rogue agents yes....but not the government.

[Dog]

Who is he?

[sissyjane]

Who is Zakaev, please? I can't remember.

[Dog]

The Chechen..

[uncbob]

And the question is

What will be done about it

[RDTF]

Fox just announced a family member has tested positive, also a hotel evacuated. So much constant breaking info on this, we need a live thread!

[Dog]

Start one...

[Oorang]

Just reported that Litvinenko's wife has tested positive.

[shezza]

So much for Trepashkin. Hope he has his own affairs in order.

[Dog]

You would expect the wife would become ill.....why I can't understand they didn't have the family in protective suits to protect them from the PO-210 is a mystery ..

[jjm2111]

"The letters were apparently written in jail by Mikhail Trepashkin, a former Russian intelligence officer. "

Hope this guy has his will written. Good job evening standard. I hope the editor knows he has blood on his hands.

[sissyjane]

This is from an interview conducted by Newsweek of Zakaev.



>>Assuming the Russians were involved in Litvinenko’s death, why do you think there might have been a change in tactics?


First of all, I need to say that I am now a witness in the investigation, and I cannot comment on [specifics] in the press because I told openly what I think to the investigating team, to the police, but I cannot go against that. What I think happened is that they got Alexander in part because once he got his British citizenship this year, he became too relaxed and perhaps he was not as ready and cautious as he could have been. And also I think the Russian special forces did not expect the Brits to figure out what killed him, because look at all the evidence, a country with all its expertise and technology, it took them three weeks to figure out what poisoned him. Only about three hours before he died they figured out it was polonium. I do not think that the special forces thought people would figure out exactly what killed him. It also helped build this image of this secretive and unknown force that killed him.<<
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