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Vladimir Putin 'probably' approved Alexander Litvinenko killing in London

President Vladimir Putin "probably" approved the assassination of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London, a public inquiry has found.

Sir Robert Owen's report said Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun were probably acting under the direction of Moscow's FSB intelligence service when they poisoned him with radioactive polonium 210 at the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair in 2006.

The Home Secretary said the Russian ambassador will be summoned to the Foreign Office to be told about the Government’s anger about the case.

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Inquiry 'sure' Lugovoi and Kovtun intended to kill ex-spy

Sir Robert Owen said he was "sure" Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun knew they were using a deadly poison and intended to kill Alexander Litvinenko.

Sir Robert's report also found they made an earlier attempt to poison Mr Litvinenko, also using polonium 210, at a meeting in London on October 16.

They both deny any involvement in the November 2006 murder and attempts to extradite the pair have failed.

Sir Robert wrote: "I am sure that Mr Lugovoi and Mr Kovtun knew that they were using a deadly poison and that they intended to kill Mr Litvinenko.

"I do not believe, however, that they knew precisely what the chemical they were handling was, or the nature of all its properties."

He continued: "I am sure that Mr Lugovoi and Mr Kovtun were acting on behalf of others when they poisoned Mr Litvinenko."

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Vladimir Putin 'probably' approved Alexander Litvinenko killing in London

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