POLONIUM SITREP

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 008249 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2011 TAGS: PREL CASC PTER RU UK SUBJECT: POLONIUM SITREP REF: A. STATE 194109 (NOTAL) ¶B. LONDON 8070 (NOTAL) Classified By: Economic Minister Counselor Mark A. Tokola for reasons 1 .4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Post provided reftel A information on polonium-210 to HMG to assist in its investigation and public response. UK health authorities continue to contact those individuals who may have stayed in rooms at the Millennium Hotel that tested positive for radiation; CA/OCS continues to contact the AMCITs who stayed in particular rooms at the Millennium and Sheraton hotels. Post was informed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that the Italian official who tested positive for polonium attended a recent meeting which USG delegation members also attended. Information from the IMO is being distributed to the delegation members. Post issued polonium background information to all Embassy employees. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) U.S.-UK COOPERATION: Post greatly appreciates the Department and DOE's assistance with providing background information on polonium for passing to HMG (reftels). On November 30, the UK Cabinet Office advised the DCM that it is pleased with the U.S.-UK scientific cooperation on this matter. ¶3. (SBU) AMCITS IN AFFECTED HOTEL ROOMS CONTACTED: According to The Times, some of the locations where traces of plutonium-210 have been found were never visited by Mr. Litvinenko, but several such as the Sheraton Park Lane hotel were used by one of the three Russians seen as key suspects in the investigation. UK health authorities are attempting to contact 17 possibly affected Millennium Hotel guests who provided UK addresses upon check-in; HMG requested that countries in which the affected non-UK residents reside contact their nationals and offer appropriate information. A briefing by the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) was held on November 30 to inform representatives from a number of foreign embassies of the 12 guests with non-UK addresses believed to have stayed in hotel rooms that tested positive for radiation. Three U.S. residents were among the total of 29 guests that were affected. Post forwarded this information to CA/OCS with a request that it coordinate with MED and contact the individuals identified. On December 1, CA/OCS reported that all three had been contacted. On December 4 Post was notified that a similar contamination had been identified in a room at the Sheraton hotel, and that five people with U.S. addresses had been identified as having stayed in that room. This information was again relayed to CA/OCS. As of December 6, Post was informed that CA/OCS had contacted three of the five individuals. ¶4. (C) USG DELEGATION TO IMO CONTACTED: On December 1, Post was advised by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that the Italian, Mario Scaramella, who tested positive for polonium, was at a recent IMO meeting as a representative for the Environmental Crime Prevention Program. IMO has advised their employees that may have come into contact with Mr. Scaramella that the risk to health is low, but should a staff member feel unwell they should contact their local physician. OES is aware of the issue and is alerting USG participants who attended the IMO meeting (held at the Brewer Street location) to this information. ¶5. (SBU) INFORMATION TO EMBASSY EMPLOYEES: On December 4, a Management Notice was distributed to all employees with general information on polonium-210, symptoms if affected, and contact information for additional questions. ¶6. (SBU) EMBASSY POC: Embassy POC on the polonium issue is LegAtt Mark Bullock (BullockMS@state.gov). Investigation details are being conveyed via law enforcement channels. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm Tuttle