© private

16. 11. 09. - 15:00

• more General News news
• RSS Feed General News

16. 11. 09. - 15:00

British PM asked to raise questions about Vienna UN death

By David Rogers

Gordon Brown is being urged to intervene in an investigation into the mysterious death of British scientist Timothy Hampton.

The nuclear expert fell to his death from the 17th floor of a UN building in Vienna last month.

UN officials had suggested that the 47-year-old, who was involved in monitoring illegal nuclear tests by Iran and North Korea and worked for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation, had killed himself.

But tests commissioned by his family have raised doubts about the findings of a first post-mortem examination and suggest that Hampton, from Newbury, may have been murdered.

Richard Benyon, Hampton’s MP, said: "I have grave misgivings about this case. I am told Hampton was not suicidal.

"He was happy in his work, loved living in Vienna and was devoted to his partner and three-year-old child.

"Yet his death seems to be being swept under the carpet. I am asking the PM not to allow this to happen."

Earlier this week, the UN denied claims that Hampton was involved in talks discussing nuclear testing in Iran although they admitted later he gathered information from Iran about whether any illegal nuclear testing was taking place.

The police investigation is now complete and the file has been handed to prosecutors who will consider whether further action needs to be taken.

A spokesman said: "With regards to the second autopsy - the private autopsy results will also be sent to Vienna State prosecutors who are now running the investigation."

Austrian Times

Related articles: UN fatality

1. UN 'suicide' scientist's family rescue evidence from destruction

   » General News 2009-11-22

   The sister of a British scientist who died in a mysterious fall has told how she rescued potential evidence from being destroyed by police.

2. British PM asked to raise questions about Vienna UN death

   » General News 2009-11-16

   Gordon Brown is being urged to intervene in an investigation into the mysterious death of British scientist Timothy Hampton.

3. Media Insider - The UN murder investigation

   » Panorama 2009-11-06

   Any newspaper that misses a story will always enjoy the chance to take a pot shot at their rivals by rubbishing their work if given the chance.

4. Mystery deepens over Vienna UN death

   » General News 2009-11-01

   A British nuclear expert who fell from the 17th floor of a United Nations building did not commit suicide and may have been hurled to his death, says a doctor who carried out a second post-mortem examination.

5. Media Insider - Baseless and Untrue

   » Panorama 2009-10-27

   Scarcely any subject has aroused so much discussion as the recent tragic death of the British nuclear energy expert Timothy Hampton last Tuesday after he fell from either the sixteenth or seventeenth floor of E Building [...]

6. Brit UN nuclear expert may have been murdered, police say

   » General News 2009-10-22

   A British nuclear energy expert who plunged 40 metres to his death at the United Nations’ (UN) building in Vienna may have been murdered, police said today (Thurs).

7. British nuclear expert dies in 40-metre plunge

   » General News 2009-10-21

   Police are investigating after a British nuclear energy expert involved in negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme fell 40 metres to his death from a UN building in Vienna.

Jennifer Rostock to strike twice
German punk rock stars Jennifer Rostock will perform in Austria twice as part of their current tour, it has been announced.

Salzburg boy foils attempted abduction
A 10-year-old school boy had a narrow escape on Monday when a man tried to abduct him on his way home from school.

Siemens lay-offs may hit Austrian workers
Munich technology firm Siemens announced yesterday (Weds) that it would lay off 4,200 workers in its IT division SIS.

Schwarzenegger Museum to open in summer
The house where Arnold Schwarzenegger was born is to open as a museum.

Car dealers spared by downturn
The economic downturn has had minimal effect on Austrian car dealers as the number of newly registered cars soared last year.

Minister calls for CO2 emissions tax
Austria's environment minister has called for the introduction of a carbon tax that he says would bring in 1.5 to 2.0 billion Euros of revenue annually, according to today’s (Thurs) edition of the newspaper Die Presse.

Seasonal workers number cut
There will be 3.5 per cent fewer foreign seasonal workers in agriculture and forestry this year than in 2009, Social Democratic (SPÖ) Labour Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer said today (Thurs).

Google Street View cars to roll over Austria again
Google Street View cars are expected to drive all across Austria again this weekend as temperatures are expected to rise.

Asylum seeker tries to torch himself
An Afghan asylum seeker tried to burn himself to death at a petrol station in Hall in Tyrol’s Innsbruck-Land district yesterday (Weds), police said.

Majority believe in some kind of God
Sixty-nine per cent of Austrians believe in some kind of God, according to results of a new poll by Linz public opinion research institute IMAS released today (Thurs).