The Litvinenko Inquiry

Part 6 | Chapters 1 to 8 | The polonium trail – events in October and November 2006
6.322 The other place where primary contamination was found was on one of the Pine
Bar’s white teapots. The teapot had been given the exhibit number NJH/1. A1 gave
evidence that every teapot in the hotel had been tested, and that NJH/1 had been
the only one that bore evidence of contamination. The readings were extremely high.
The highest readings were taken on the inside of the spout, where the polonium
appeared to have bonded with tannin deposits. A1 stated that the levels and position
of the contamination found on the inside of the teapot indicated that, “at some stage
polonium… has been poured out of the spout”. She was sure of this. She said, “I think
that’s the only conclusion you can come to.” 299
The teapot 300
299
A1 20/70-75
300
INQ017911 (page 6)
177