POLICE investigating the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko are hoping a post mortem will bring fresh clues to the case.

Those involved in the procedure at the Royal London Hospital will be required to wear protective clothing to avoid exposure to the deadly radioactive substance polonium-210.

Since the death of the ex-KGB agent last Thursday, twelve places in the capital have shown up traces of radioactivity, including two British Airways jets at Heathrow airport.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and Olympic Chairman Lord Coe travelled to Barcelona on one of the aircrafts tested.

However, Ms Jowell confirmed today that the plane had not been contaminated and said she was in "tip-top condition".

British Airways is contacting 33,000 passengers from 221 flights, who may have been contaminated by the substance. However the airline and the Government stressed that the risk to public health was low.

Police in Ireland are also investigating the suspected poisoning of former Russian Prime Minister Yegor Gaidar who travelled to Dublin with ten other Russians for a conference.

Mr Gaider, who is seriously ill in a Moscow hospital, had complained about feeling ill on the flight over on November 23. His spokesman Valery Natarov said: "Doctors don't see a natural reason for the poisoning and they have not been able to detect any natural substance known to them in Mr Gaidar's body. So obviously we're talking about poisoning."

24 venues tested

To date, 24 locations across the capital have or are being monitored by police. Traces of the substance have been found at:

  • The offices of exiled Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky at 7 Down Street, Mayfair.
  • Itsu sushi bar in Piccadilly, where Mr Litvinenko met the self-styled Italian defence expert Mario Scaramella at around 3pm on the day he fell ill.
  • The Millennium Hotel in Grosvenor Square, where the former spy then met the former KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi and business associate Dmitry Kovtun.
  • The headquarters of security company Erinys at 25 Grosvenor Street, Mayfair - visited by Mr Litvinenko just after 6pm that day.
  • A second office block in Grosvenor Street, at number 58.
  • Mr Litvinenko's home in Muswell Hill, north London.

Despite repeated searches of "key public areas" at the five-star Sheraton Hotel in Park Lane, police found no contamination. "We can confirm that in those areas there no risk to public health," the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said.

The two London hospitals where Mr Litvinenko received treatment - Barnet and University College - have also been tested and cleared.

By midnight on Tuesday, 1,325 people had called a hotline about the radiation scare. Of them, 68 were followed up, with 21 being sent as outpatients to a specialist radiation clinic.

The HPA said 157 people, including 52 hospital staff, were asked to submit urine samples. The 16 samples tested so far have showed no radiation.

Inquest opens

Meanwhile the inquest into Mr Litvinenko's death was opened and adjourned at St Pancras Coroner's Court in north London yesterday. It will continue once police completed their investigation.

Dr Andrew Reid, the coroner, said it appeared that Mr Litvinenko had been "exposed to a radioactive substance or isotope known as polonium-210".

The post-mortem would take place at the Royal London Hospital tomorrow, he confirmed.

An independent pathologist will be present - a standard procedure in cases where criminal charges may be brought.

Mr Litvinenko's family also appointed a third pathologist to attend.

The former spy's wife did not go to the hearing, but was represented a close family friend, Alex Goldfarb.

  • People who have been on the 221 flights were urged to contact their doctor or the NHS hotline on 0845 4647.