A POISONOUS UMBRELLA

BulgArIAn broadcaster georgi Markov was on his way to the BBC’s World Service studios in london during September 1978 when, walking across

Waterloo

Bridge, he felt a sharp jab in his thigh.

A passer-by had stabbed the tip of his umbrella (left) into Markov’s leg, before hailing a taxi and leaving the writer limping in pain. Markov, well-known for his acerbic attacks on Bulgaria’s corrupt Communist leadership, later collapsed with a fever and by the end of the week he was dead.

The umbrella’s tip contained a minute capsule of ricin, a poison with no antidote. his murder was a grim reminder of the risks faced by BBC reporters all over the world.