Top secret scientist who created first Soviet thermonuclear bomb found dead in Moscow as police launch probe

A SCIENTIST who created the first Soviet thermonuclear bomb has been found dead at his apartment in Moscow. Russian investigators are probing the death of atomic expert Grigory Klinishov after a suicide note was found. Grigory Klinishov was found hanged in his apartment in central MoscowEast2West The bomb designer reportedly died on June 17 at the age of 92. Klinishov was one of the creators of the first Soviet two-stage RDS-37 thermonuclear bomb. It was tested on November 22, 1955 at Semipalatinsk training ground by dropping it from a Tu-16 bomber.  RDS-37 was so powerful that shockwaves smashed windows up to 149 miles from the epicentre of the blast, Mediazona reports. As a top secret bomb designer, Klinishov won the Lenin Prize in 1962. He later helped develop newer-generation thermonuclear bombs – known as hydrogen bombs or H-bombs. Klinishov – whose photo was never released by the Soviet authorities – was found dead by his 67-year-old daughter. The Russian Investigative Committee said: “A note was found next to the scientist, on whose neck injuries characteristic of hanging were found. “The reasons for the suicide could be the severe illness of the scientist and the death of his wife.” An investigation is underway pending a decision on whether to open a criminal case into his death, the committee said. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY… The Sun is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Download our fantastic, new and improved free App for the best ever Sun Online experience. For iPhone click here, for Android click here.  Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.