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Russian spy: What we know so far Russian spy: What we know so far
(about 3 hours later)
A former Russian spy and his daughter remain critically ill in hospital after being exposed to an "unknown substance" in Salisbury, Wiltshire. Police have launched an attempted murder investigation after a former Russian spy and his daughter were exposed to a nerve agent in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
Police are trying to find out why Sergei Skripal, 66, was found slumped on a shopping centre bench alongside daughter Yulia Skripal, 33, on Sunday afternoon. Sergei Skripal, 66, and Yulia Skripal, 33, remain in a critical condition after being found slumped on a shopping centre bench on Sunday afternoon.
The first police officer to reach the scene is also now in a serious condition in hospital.
Russia has denied any involvement. UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says the country would respond "robustly" if Moscow was found to be behind the incident.Russia has denied any involvement. UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says the country would respond "robustly" if Moscow was found to be behind the incident.
So what exactly is going on?So what exactly is going on?
Timeline of eventsTimeline of events
Mr Skripal was found alongside his daughter on a bench near the Maltings shopping centre on 4 March.Mr Skripal was found alongside his daughter on a bench near the Maltings shopping centre on 4 March.
They became ill around 13.30 GMT, police said. Officers were alerted to the incident by a concerned member of the public at around 16.15 GMT. They became ill at around 13.30 GMT, police said. Officers were alerted to the incident by a concerned member of the public at around 16.15 GMT.
CCTV footage released by police shows two people walking through an alleyway near the area where Mr Skripal and his daughter collapsed.CCTV footage released by police shows two people walking through an alleyway near the area where Mr Skripal and his daughter collapsed.
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The pair, who did not have any visible injuries, were taken to Salisbury District Hospital where they are being treated in intensive care for "suspected exposure to an unknown substance". The pair, who did not have any visible injuries, were taken to Salisbury District Hospital where they are being treated in intensive care.
Two police officers were also treated in hospital for minor symptoms - believed to be itchy eyes and wheezing - and a third member of the emergency services remains in hospital. It has been confirmed that the first police officer to reach the scene is also now seriously ill in hospital.
Two other police officers were treated in hospital for minor symptoms - believed to be itchy eyes and wheezing.
The nearby Zizzi restaurant and The Bishop's Mill pub remain sealed off as a precaution.The nearby Zizzi restaurant and The Bishop's Mill pub remain sealed off as a precaution.
The 'quintessentially English' home of a Russian spyThe 'quintessentially English' home of a Russian spy
Who is Sergei Skripal?Who is Sergei Skripal?
Colonel Skripal, a retired Russian military intelligence officer, was jailed for 13 years by Russia in 2006.Colonel Skripal, a retired Russian military intelligence officer, was jailed for 13 years by Russia in 2006.
He was convicted of passing the identities of Russian intelligence agents working undercover in Europe to the UK's Secret Intelligence Service, MI6.He was convicted of passing the identities of Russian intelligence agents working undercover in Europe to the UK's Secret Intelligence Service, MI6.
In July 2010, he was one of four prisoners released by Moscow in exchange for 10 Russian spies arrested by the FBI as part of a swap. He was later flown to the UK.In July 2010, he was one of four prisoners released by Moscow in exchange for 10 Russian spies arrested by the FBI as part of a swap. He was later flown to the UK.
According to BBC Newsnight's diplomatic editor Mark Urban, in recent years Col Skripal gave lectures at military academies offering insights into Russia's foreign military intelligence agency, the GRU.According to BBC Newsnight's diplomatic editor Mark Urban, in recent years Col Skripal gave lectures at military academies offering insights into Russia's foreign military intelligence agency, the GRU.
Daughter, and family deathsDaughter, and family deaths
Daughter Yulia Skripal, based in Moscow, would visit Mr Skripal regularly, relatives have told the BBC.Daughter Yulia Skripal, based in Moscow, would visit Mr Skripal regularly, relatives have told the BBC.
Mr Skripal's wife, elder brother and his son have died in the past two years - some in suspicious circumstances, the family believe.Mr Skripal's wife, elder brother and his son have died in the past two years - some in suspicious circumstances, the family believe.
His son, Alexander Skripal, died aged 43 last July in St Petersburg from liver failure, Newsnight said.His son, Alexander Skripal, died aged 43 last July in St Petersburg from liver failure, Newsnight said.
Alexander Skripal is buried in Salisbury close to his mother, Liudmila Skripal, who died of cancer in 2012.Alexander Skripal is buried in Salisbury close to his mother, Liudmila Skripal, who died of cancer in 2012.
Mr Skripal's family deny that he worked for MI6, and believe that the espionage case was fabricated by Russia.Mr Skripal's family deny that he worked for MI6, and believe that the espionage case was fabricated by Russia.
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What are police doing?What are police doing?
Police say the pair were poisoned by a nerve agent and are treating the case as attempted murder.
Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, head of counter-terrorism operations, said the Skripals had been "targeted specifically".
The forensic work in Salisbury may take several days, he said. He asked anyone with information to call 999.
Counter Terrorism Police took over the investigation from Wiltshire Police on Tuesday - but said a terrorist incident had not been declared.Counter Terrorism Police took over the investigation from Wiltshire Police on Tuesday - but said a terrorist incident had not been declared.
They are appealing for witnesses and telling anyone with information to call 999. Scientists at the UK's military research facility at Porton Down spent days examining the substance which harmed the Skripals.
Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, head of counter-terrorism operations, said detectives had taken forensic samples at the scene and were doing toxicology work to "help us get to an answer".
Scientists at the UK's military research facility at Porton Down are examining an "unknown substance".
How has the government responded?How has the government responded?
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said police had more information about the substance that made the Skripals fall ill. Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the investigation would be "lengthy and ongoing" and would respond to evidence not "rumour", speaking after a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra.
Speaking after a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra, she said the investigation would be "lengthy and ongoing" and would respond to evidence not "rumour".
On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told MPs the UK would respond "robustly" to any evidence of Russian state responsibility in the case - but said he was not pointing fingers.On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told MPs the UK would respond "robustly" to any evidence of Russian state responsibility in the case - but said he was not pointing fingers.
He said a response could include sanctions, and asking UK dignitaries not to attend the World Cup in Russia this summer.He said a response could include sanctions, and asking UK dignitaries not to attend the World Cup in Russia this summer.
What has Russia said?What has Russia said?
Russia has dismissed suggestions linking Moscow with the incident.Russia has dismissed suggestions linking Moscow with the incident.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Mr Skripal's illness a "tragic situation" but said "we don't have any information" - and added that Moscow was open to cooperating with British police if requested.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Mr Skripal's illness a "tragic situation" but said "we don't have any information" - and added that Moscow was open to cooperating with British police if requested.
In a statement, the Russian embassy in London said: "Media reports create an impression of a planned operation by the Russian special services, which is completely untrue."In a statement, the Russian embassy in London said: "Media reports create an impression of a planned operation by the Russian special services, which is completely untrue."
Has this happened in the UK before?Has this happened in the UK before?
The possibility of an unknown substance being involved has drawn comparisons with the 2006 poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko.The possibility of an unknown substance being involved has drawn comparisons with the 2006 poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko.
The former Russian intelligence officer died in London after drinking tea laced with a radioactive substance.The former Russian intelligence officer died in London after drinking tea laced with a radioactive substance.
A public inquiry concluded that his killing had probably been carried out with the approval of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.A public inquiry concluded that his killing had probably been carried out with the approval of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
What did locals see?What did locals see?
Eyewitness Freya Church said she saw a man and a woman looking unwell on a bench that afternoon.Eyewitness Freya Church said she saw a man and a woman looking unwell on a bench that afternoon.
"They looked so out of it that I thought even if I did step in I wasn't sure how I could help," she said. "It looked like they had been taking something quite strong.""They looked so out of it that I thought even if I did step in I wasn't sure how I could help," she said. "It looked like they had been taking something quite strong."
Another passer-by, Jamie Paine, said the woman he saw was frothing at the mouth and her eyes "were wide open but completely white".Another passer-by, Jamie Paine, said the woman he saw was frothing at the mouth and her eyes "were wide open but completely white".
Resident Graham Mulcock said he saw emergency services personnel attending to two people on a bench from the window of his flat in the city centre.Resident Graham Mulcock said he saw emergency services personnel attending to two people on a bench from the window of his flat in the city centre.
"You could see the paramedics were really worried," he said."You could see the paramedics were really worried," he said.
"The man was just sitting there, staring into space, eyes wide open in this catatonic state with paramedics all over him.""The man was just sitting there, staring into space, eyes wide open in this catatonic state with paramedics all over him."
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