LONDON, March 16 (Xinhua) -- British police have launched an investigation into the death of a Russian businessman on Friday, as the country's row with Russia over a spy's death has escalated.

Scotland Yard said in a statement that a murder investigation has been launched following the results of a post mortem into the death of 68-year-old Russian businessman Nikolai Glushkov.

It said the Met Police's Counter Terrorism Command, which has led the investigation from the outset, is now treating Glushkov's death as murder.