First murder by radiation

On 23 November 2006, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Litvinenko, a retired member of the Russian security services (FSB), died from radiation poisoning in London, UK, becoming the first known victim of lethal Polonium 210-induced acute radiation syndrome. Despite investigations the murder case remains unresolved. It was established by the UK Health Protection Agency that he had significant amounts of the radio isotope Polonium 210 in his body. It also traced the contamination to around 40 separate premises from hotels, sushi bars and offices. The Chief Advisor to the HPA subsequently stated that, of the 1,500 people they calculated might be at risk, 17 were actually found to be contaminated with Polonium. By 6 December 2006, the Metropolitan Police in London were treating the death as a murder and subsequently, as a result of investigations, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the UK said that Andrei Lugovoi, an ex-KGB officer, should be charged with murder. Subsequently, the UK Government unsuccessfully requested his extradition from Russia. Since then, the UK has expelled four Russian diplomats and this was mirrored shortly after by the expulsion of four British diplomats from Moscow.