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| Sergei Skripal believed to have been poisoned with nerve agent | Sergei Skripal believed to have been poisoned with nerve agent |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Investigators believe a nerve agent was used to poison former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury on Sunday. | Investigators believe a nerve agent was used to poison former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury on Sunday. |
| It is believed to have been a deliberate act and the two victims are described as being critically ill in hospital. | It is believed to have been a deliberate act and the two victims are described as being critically ill in hospital. |
| The medical and chemical evidence, plus the effects on the victims points to a nerve agent. Sources would not discuss which one but the best known are VX and sarin. | The medical and chemical evidence, plus the effects on the victims points to a nerve agent. Sources would not discuss which one but the best known are VX and sarin. |
| Scientists at Porton Down have assisted in the investigation which is being led by Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command, SO15, with significant help from the intelligence agencies. | Scientists at Porton Down have assisted in the investigation which is being led by Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command, SO15, with significant help from the intelligence agencies. |
| The investigation is comprised of multiple strands. Among them is whether there is any more of the nerve agent in the UK, and where it came from. | The investigation is comprised of multiple strands. Among them is whether there is any more of the nerve agent in the UK, and where it came from. |
| Decontamination work has been undertaken to make areas feared to have been affected by the suspected nerve agent safe. The belief among British investigators that a nerve agent was used indicates a state may have been responsible, but it is not a definitive sign, amid suspicion that Russia was responsible. Moscow denies the claims. More details about what British investigators know is expected to be announced officially this afternoon. | Decontamination work has been undertaken to make areas feared to have been affected by the suspected nerve agent safe. The belief among British investigators that a nerve agent was used indicates a state may have been responsible, but it is not a definitive sign, amid suspicion that Russia was responsible. Moscow denies the claims. More details about what British investigators know is expected to be announced officially this afternoon. |
| Sources close to British intelligence said toxicology tests would be key in the days ahead. They warned that other factors or triggers may have been involved. | Sources close to British intelligence said toxicology tests would be key in the days ahead. They warned that other factors or triggers may have been involved. |
| There was renewed activity in the centre of Salisbury on Wednesday afternoon, when around a dozen police cars, fire engines and ambulances arrived in the centre of the town. Attention was focused on Sarum House next door to the restaurant Zizzi, one of the locations sealed off by police. A dark-haired woman was taken out by police officers and escorted into an ambulance. | |
| Skripal was found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury on Sunday afternoon. The woman next to him was identified as Yulia Skripal, 33. Both remain critically ill and in intensive care after exposure to an “unknown substance”. | Skripal was found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury on Sunday afternoon. The woman next to him was identified as Yulia Skripal, 33. Both remain critically ill and in intensive care after exposure to an “unknown substance”. |
| It has emerged Skripal and his daughter had been in the city centre from 1.30pm, almost three hours before they collapsed. Police are also keen to get any video footage from shoppers or visitors to Salisbury on Sunday afternoon. | It has emerged Skripal and his daughter had been in the city centre from 1.30pm, almost three hours before they collapsed. Police are also keen to get any video footage from shoppers or visitors to Salisbury on Sunday afternoon. |
| The Metropolitan police said due to the “unusual circumstances”, its counter-terrorism unit would lead the investigation. | The Metropolitan police said due to the “unusual circumstances”, its counter-terrorism unit would lead the investigation. |
| On Wednesday, the Met issued a fresh statement on the incident. “At approximately 4.15pm, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 30s were found unconscious on a bench near the Maltings shopping centre, Salisbury,” it said. | On Wednesday, the Met issued a fresh statement on the incident. “At approximately 4.15pm, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 30s were found unconscious on a bench near the Maltings shopping centre, Salisbury,” it said. |
| “They are currently being treated at hospital for suspected exposure to an unknown substance. Both remain in a critical condition in intensive care. We are not releasing details of the man and woman who are critically ill. | “They are currently being treated at hospital for suspected exposure to an unknown substance. Both remain in a critical condition in intensive care. We are not releasing details of the man and woman who are critically ill. |
| “Wiltshire police, along with colleagues from the ambulance and fire services, attended the scene and cordons were established, which remain in place. It has not been declared a terrorist incident and we continue to keep an open mind as to what happened. | “Wiltshire police, along with colleagues from the ambulance and fire services, attended the scene and cordons were established, which remain in place. It has not been declared a terrorist incident and we continue to keep an open mind as to what happened. |
| “Cordons are now in place at a further scene near Solstice Park in Amesbury. This is linked to the investigation and is a precautionary measure.” | “Cordons are now in place at a further scene near Solstice Park in Amesbury. This is linked to the investigation and is a precautionary measure.” |
| It is understood that this part of the operation relates to emergency vehicles involved in taking Skripal to hospital. | It is understood that this part of the operation relates to emergency vehicles involved in taking Skripal to hospital. |
| Officers have carried out a CCTV investigation and spoken to a number of people as part of the inquiry, and are appealing to anybody who visited Salisbury city centre and the surrounding areas on Sunday afternoon, and has not yet spoken to police, to get in touch. | Officers have carried out a CCTV investigation and spoken to a number of people as part of the inquiry, and are appealing to anybody who visited Salisbury city centre and the surrounding areas on Sunday afternoon, and has not yet spoken to police, to get in touch. |
| They are keen to speak to anyone who visited Zizzi restaurant on Castle Street and the Bishop’s Mill pub in the Maltings, both premises the father and daughter are believed to have visited. | They are keen to speak to anyone who visited Zizzi restaurant on Castle Street and the Bishop’s Mill pub in the Maltings, both premises the father and daughter are believed to have visited. |
| The Met assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, the head of counter-terrorism policing, said: “Working alongside Wiltshire police and partner agencies, we continue to carry out extensive inquiries. This investigation is at the early stages and any speculation is unhelpful at this time. | The Met assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, the head of counter-terrorism policing, said: “Working alongside Wiltshire police and partner agencies, we continue to carry out extensive inquiries. This investigation is at the early stages and any speculation is unhelpful at this time. |
| “The focus at this time is to establish what has caused these people to become critically ill. We would like to reassure members of the public that this incident is being taken extremely seriously and we currently do not believe there is any risk to the wider public. | “The focus at this time is to establish what has caused these people to become critically ill. We would like to reassure members of the public that this incident is being taken extremely seriously and we currently do not believe there is any risk to the wider public. |
| “The two people taken ill were in Salisbury centre from around 1.30pm. Did you see anything out of the ordinary? It may be that at the time, nothing appeared out of place or untoward, but with what you now know, you remember something that might be of significance. Your memory of that afternoon and your movements alone could help us with missing pieces of the investigation. The weather was poor that day, so there were not as many people out and about. Every statement we can take is important.” | “The two people taken ill were in Salisbury centre from around 1.30pm. Did you see anything out of the ordinary? It may be that at the time, nothing appeared out of place or untoward, but with what you now know, you remember something that might be of significance. Your memory of that afternoon and your movements alone could help us with missing pieces of the investigation. The weather was poor that day, so there were not as many people out and about. Every statement we can take is important.” |
| The temporary chief constable of Wiltshire police, Kier Pritchard, said: “We continue to work with our partners, including Public Health England, the local NHS trust, local authorities and emergency services. The public will continue to see a high visible policing presence in Salisbury city to help reassure our communities.” | The temporary chief constable of Wiltshire police, Kier Pritchard, said: “We continue to work with our partners, including Public Health England, the local NHS trust, local authorities and emergency services. The public will continue to see a high visible policing presence in Salisbury city to help reassure our communities.” |
| Sergei Skripal | Sergei Skripal |
| Amber Rudd | Amber Rudd |
| Police | Police |
| UK security and counter-terrorism | UK security and counter-terrorism |
| Espionage | Espionage |
| Russia | Russia |
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