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Russian spy: What we know so far Russian spy: What we know so far
(about 14 hours later)
Police are investigating two attempted murders after a former Russian spy and his daughter were exposed to a nerve agent in Salisbury, Wiltshire.Police are investigating two attempted murders after a former Russian spy and his daughter were exposed to a nerve agent in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
Sergei Skripal, 66, and Yulia Skripal, 33, remain in a critical but stable condition after being found slumped on a bench near the Maltings shopping centre on Sunday 4 March.Sergei Skripal, 66, and Yulia Skripal, 33, remain in a critical but stable condition after being found slumped on a bench near the Maltings shopping centre on Sunday 4 March.
The first police officer to reach the scene remains seriously ill in hospital but has been talking to his family.The first police officer to reach the scene remains seriously ill in hospital but has been talking to his family.
Traces of a nerve agent have been found at the restaurant where they ate on Sunday afternoon Traces of a nerve agent have been found at the restaurant where they ate on Sunday afternoon, and at a nearby pub.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd described the attack as brazen and cruel.Home Secretary Amber Rudd described the attack as brazen and cruel.
Russia has denied any involvement. UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says the country will respond "robustly" if Moscow is found to have been behind the incident.Russia has denied any involvement. UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says the country will respond "robustly" if Moscow is found to have been behind the incident.
Timeline of eventsTimeline of events
Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia are believed to have been in Salisbury city centre from 13:30 GMT on 4 March.Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia are believed to have been in Salisbury city centre from 13:30 GMT on 4 March.
A witness told the BBC that he saw the pair in the Zizzi restaurant at about 14:00 GMT.A witness told the BBC that he saw the pair in the Zizzi restaurant at about 14:00 GMT.
Mr Skripal was found alongside his daughter on a bench near the Maltings shopping centre, a short walk away.Mr Skripal was found alongside his daughter on a bench near the Maltings shopping centre, a short walk away.
At about 16:15 GMT officers were alerted to the incident.At about 16:15 GMT officers were alerted to the incident.
Eyewitness Freya Church said she saw a man and a woman looking unwell on a bench on the afternoon of 4 March.Eyewitness Freya Church said she saw a man and a woman looking unwell on a bench on the afternoon of 4 March.
"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."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.
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".
A doctor, who was shopping with her husband in the city centre on Sunday, told the BBC she stepped in to help Ms Skripal after she found her on the bench.A doctor, who was shopping with her husband in the city centre on Sunday, told the BBC she stepped in to help Ms Skripal after she found her on the bench.
She described the 33-year-old as "slumped in her seat, completely unconscious" and had lost control of her bodily functions. She said the 33-year-old was "slumped in her seat, completely unconscious" and had lost control of her bodily functions.
The pair, who did not have any visible injuries, were taken to Salisbury District Hospital by paramedics where they are being treated in intensive care.The pair, who did not have any visible injuries, were taken to Salisbury District Hospital by paramedics where they are being treated in intensive care.
The first police officer to reach the scene - Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey - was also taken to hospital and placed in intensive care.The first police officer to reach the scene - Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey - was also taken to hospital and placed in intensive care.
On Saturday, Amber Rudd said he remained "seriously ill" but had been talking to his family in hospital.On Saturday, Amber Rudd said he remained "seriously ill" but had been talking to his family in hospital.
In a statement, Det Sgt Bailey he said he did not "consider himself a hero" and was "merely doing his job". In a statement, Det Sgt Bailey said he did not "consider himself a hero" and was "merely doing his job".
The investigation so farThe investigation so far
Police say the pair were poisoned by a nerve agent and are treating the case as attempted murder.Police say the pair were poisoned by a nerve agent and are treating the case as attempted murder.
The BBC understands that traces of the nerve agent have been found at the restaurant where the pair ate. Traces of it were found at the Mill pub and Zizzi restaurant, where the Skripals spent the afternoon.
There is no suggestion that anyone else who was in Zizzi at the same time as the pair are in danger or had anything to do with how the trace got there. Up to 500 people who visited the pub or the restaurant on Sunday or Monday are being told to wash their clothes and possessions to avoid any contamination.
Prof Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, stresses the risk of harm is "low" but there was some concern that prolonged exposure over weeks and months could cause health problems.
Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, head of counter-terrorism operations, said the Skripals had been "targeted specifically".Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, head of counter-terrorism operations, said the Skripals had been "targeted specifically".
Police say the agent used has been identified but they are not making that information public.Police say the agent used has been identified but they are not making that information public.
Officers have identified more than 240 witnesses and are looking at about 200 pieces of evidence.Officers have identified more than 240 witnesses and are looking at about 200 pieces of evidence.
More than 250 counter-terrorism officers are involved in the investigation, as about 180 military personnel were deployed to help remove vehicles and objects which may have been contaminated.More than 250 counter-terrorism officers are involved in the investigation, as about 180 military personnel were deployed to help remove vehicles and objects which may have been contaminated.
Personnel from the Defence Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Centre, which is a specialist site for chemical warfare experts, have also been drafted in.Personnel from the Defence Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Centre, which is a specialist site for chemical warfare experts, have also been drafted in.
Police said they wanted to speak to anyone who was in the centre of Salisbury on Sunday, particularly those who ate at Zizzi or drank in The Mill pub between 13:00 GMT and 16:00 GMT. Both buildings remain sealed off. Cordons remain around Zizzi, the Mill pub, Mr Skripal's Salisbury home and the graves of Mr Skripal's wife and son at a nearby cemetery.
There is also a cordon in place outside Mr Skripal's Salisbury home and the graves of Mr Skripal's wife and son at a cemetery in the Wiltshire town have been taped off.
Who are the victims?Who are the victims?
Colonel Skripal is a retired Russian military intelligence officer who was convicted of passing the identities of Russian intelligence agents working undercover in Europe to the UK's Secret Intelligence Service, MI6.Colonel Skripal is a retired Russian military intelligence officer who was convicted of passing the identities of Russian intelligence agents working undercover in Europe to the UK's Secret Intelligence Service, MI6.
He was jailed for 13 years by Russia in 2006.He was jailed for 13 years by Russia in 2006.
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 Mr 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 Mr Skripal gave lectures at military academies offering insights into Russia's foreign military intelligence agency, the GRU.
A friend from college, Vladimir Svyatski, described Mr Skripal as "very active, with a positive attitude and creative".A friend from college, Vladimir Svyatski, described Mr Skripal as "very active, with a positive attitude and creative".
A former colleague, Oleg Ivanov, told the BBC he was "the life and soul of party".A former colleague, Oleg Ivanov, told the BBC he was "the life and soul of party".
Daughter Yulia Skripal, based in Moscow, would visit Mr Skripal in the UK regularly, relatives told the BBC. His daughter, Yulia, would regularly travel to the UK from her home in Moscow to visit her father, relatives told the BBC.
"She told me she liked everything [in the UK]," childhood friend Irina Petrova said. "They had an amazing place, and amazing house.""She told me she liked everything [in the UK]," childhood friend Irina Petrova said. "They had an amazing place, and amazing house."
Ms Petrova added that Ms Skripal had an "excellent" relationship with her father and had been the "perfect kid" who received excellent grades at school. She had an "excellent" relationship with her father, Ms Petrova said, and had been the "perfect kid", getting excellent grades at school.
She said Ms Skripal, who friends say has worked for multinationals including Nike and PepsiCo, was "always smiling, just like her mother". Ms Skripal, who friends say worked for multinationals including Nike and PepsiCo, was "always smiling, just like her mother", Ms Petrova added.
What else do we know about the family?What else do we know about the family?
Mr Skripal's wife, Liudmila, died in 2012 after suffering from cancer. His elder brother and son have died in the past two years.Mr Skripal's wife, Liudmila, died in 2012 after suffering from cancer. His elder brother and son have died in the past two years.
Some of the deaths, the family believe, were in suspicious circumstances.Some of the deaths, the family believe, were in suspicious circumstances.
His son, Alexander Skripal, died aged 43 last July in St Petersburg from liver failure. He is buried in Salisbury, close to his mother.His son, Alexander Skripal, died aged 43 last July in St Petersburg from liver failure. He is buried in Salisbury, close to his mother.
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.
How has the government responded?How has the government responded?
The government is holding regular meetings of Cobra - its emergency committee meeting.The government is holding regular meetings of Cobra - its emergency committee meeting.
After one on Saturday, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said it was still too early to say who was responsible for the attack but "enormous resources" were going into identifying them.After one on Saturday, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said it was still too early to say who was responsible for the attack but "enormous resources" were going into identifying them.
What has Russia said?What has Russia said?
Russia has dismissed suggestions linking Moscow to the incident.Russia has dismissed suggestions linking Moscow to the incident.
The country's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said Russia was willing to help with the investigation but had not yet been asked to by the UK.The country's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said Russia was willing to help with the investigation but had not yet been asked to by the UK.
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 co-operating 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 co-operating 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.
An investigation by Buzzfeed News claims that there have been at least 14 deaths in the UK that US officials suspected were connected to Russia.An investigation by Buzzfeed News claims that there have been at least 14 deaths in the UK that US officials suspected were connected to Russia.
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