Germany investigates spy contact over radiation traces

German authorities say they are investigating Russian businessman Dmitry Kovtun on suspicion that he may have improperly handled radioactive material before he met ex-spy Alexander Litvenenko in London.

Police spokesman Martin Koehnke said the investigation of Mr Kovtun was opened because “at this stage of the investigation, we have sufficient initial cause to believe that he brought the polonium traces to Hamburg outside his body, or that these traces are the result of contact with polonium-210”.