This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43315636

The article has changed 45 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 17 Version 18
Russian spy: What we know so far Russian spy: What we know so far
(about 20 hours later)
There is "no alternative conclusion" than to believe Russia is "culpable" for the attempted murder of a former spy and his daughter with a nerve agent, the prime minister has said. The attempted murder of a former Russian double agent and his daughter on British soil has led to accusations of Russian state involvement.
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 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on Sunday 4 March. The British government is expelling 23 Russian diplomats after Moscow refused to explain how a nerve agent was used against former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia in Salisbury on Sunday 4 March.
A police officer who fell ill tending to the pair remains seriously ill in hospital, while another person is being treated as an outpatient. Prime Minister Theresa May said the chemical used in the attack had been identified as being part of a group of nerve agents developed by Russia known as Novichok.
Theresa May said the chemical used in the attack had been identified as being part of a group of nerve agents developed by Russia known as Novichok. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has said his government will also expel British diplomats.
Russia failed to meet Tuesday's deadline to provide a credible explanation over the origins of the substance and Mrs May has invoked several sanctions to send a "clear message". This is what we know so far.
Timeline of eventsTimeline of events
The investigation so farThe investigation so far
Police have been treating the case as attempted murder.Police have been treating the case as attempted murder.
Traces of the nerve agent were found at the Mill pub and Zizzi restaurant, where the Skripals spent the afternoon. Traces of the nerve agent were found at the Mill and Zizzi, where the Skripals spent the afternoon.
Eyewitness Jamie Paine said he saw a woman on a bench frothing at the mouth and her eyes "were wide open but completely white".Eyewitness Jamie Paine said he saw a woman on a bench 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, said Ms Skripal was "slumped in her seat, completely unconscious" and had lost control of her bodily functions.A doctor, who was shopping with her husband in the city centre on Sunday, said Ms Skripal was "slumped in her seat, completely unconscious" and had lost control of her bodily functions.
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".
Up to 500 people who visited the pub or the restaurant on Sunday or Monday were told to wash their clothes and possessions to avoid any contamination.Up to 500 people who visited the pub or the restaurant on Sunday or Monday were told to wash their clothes and possessions to avoid any contamination.
Prof Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, stressed the risk of harm was "low" but there was some concern that prolonged exposure over weeks and months could cause health problems.Prof Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, stressed the risk of harm was "low" but there was some concern that prolonged exposure over weeks and months could cause health problems.
Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Neil Basu said the "prime focus" of the investigation, which will take many weeks, was how the poison was administered. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said the "prime focus" of the investigation, which will take many weeks, was how the poison was administered.
Police have appealed for any witnesses who saw the pair in Mr Skripal's red BMW - licence plate number HD09 WAO - between 13:00 GMT and 13:45 GMT on the day of the attack.Police have appealed for any witnesses who saw the pair in Mr Skripal's red BMW - licence plate number HD09 WAO - between 13:00 GMT and 13:45 GMT on the day of the attack.
Officers have identified more than 240 witnesses and are looking at over 380 pieces of evidence. Officers have identified more than 240 witnesses and are looking at more than 380 pieces of evidence.
More than 250 counter-terrorism officers are involved in the investigation, and 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, and 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 at Porton Down in Wiltshire identified the nerve agent.Personnel from the Defence Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Centre at Porton Down in Wiltshire identified the nerve agent.
Areas of Gillingham in Dorset have also been cordoned off as part of the investigation. Police cordoned off a truck in Gillingham, Dorset, thought to have recovered Mr Skripal's car from Salisbury.
About 20 miles from the town a truck, which is thought to have recovered Mr Skripal's car from Salisbury, has been sealed off by police and the Army.
How has the government responded?How has the government responded?
The government has requested answers from the Russian leadership but explanations have not been forthcoming.The government has requested answers from the Russian leadership but explanations have not been forthcoming.
Mrs May said Russia has responded to the situation with "sarcasm, contempt and defiance" and not provided any credible reasons. Mrs May said Russia had responded to the situation with "sarcasm, contempt and defiance" and not provided any credible reasons.
During Prime Minister's Questions, she told MPs the only conclusion to be drawn was one where Russia was "culpable" for the attempted murders and threatening the public safety of Britons in Salisbury. She told MPs the only conclusion to be drawn was one where Russia was "culpable" for the attempted murders and threatening the public safety of Britons in Salisbury.
She added there would be a "full and robust" response beyond what had been done for the Litvinenko poisoning case.She added there would be a "full and robust" response beyond what had been done for the Litvinenko poisoning case.
A series of sanctions have been announced including: She announced a series of sanctions including:
Mrs May added there were other measures ready to be deployed if the UK faces more "Russia provocation".Mrs May added there were other measures ready to be deployed if the UK faces more "Russia provocation".
She has already spoken to allies US President Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, who have all agreed to "co-operate closely".She has already spoken to allies US President Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, who have all agreed to "co-operate closely".
The UK is to brief the UN Security Council on the investigation on Wednesday evening. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting at the UK's request, where British deputy ambassador Jonathan Allen said Russia had used "a weapon so horrific that it is banned in war".
At the meeting US Ambassador Nikki Haley said: "The credibility of this council will not survive if we fail to hold Russia accountable."
What has Russia said?What has Russia said?
Russia has dismissed suggestions linking Moscow to the incident. The Russian foreign ministry has called Mrs May's allegations "insane".
The Russian foreign ministry said the "hostile" measures were "an unprecedentedly crude provocation" which undermined the relationship between the two countries. A spokesman for Vladimir Putin said the Russian president "won't take long" to respond to the UK's expulsion of Russian diplomats.
The UK has been "non-transparent" in their investigations and sanctions against Britain are up for discussion, it added. There have been conflicting reports on whether the country's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov told Russian media that British diplomats would be expelled from Russia.
Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has said the UK is "playing politics" and not taking into account an international pact on chemical weapons. The RIA Novosti agency quoted him as saying Russia would "definitely" expel UK diplomats "soon".
Mr Lavrov was also quoted by Tass as saying he hoped the former spy, Sergei Skripal, would recover so he could shed light on events.
Earlier he said the UK is "playing politics" and not taking into account an international pact on chemical weapons.
He said if the UK sends Moscow a formal request for an explanation under the Chemical Weapons Convention, Russia will respond within the set 10-day time limit.He said if the UK sends Moscow a formal request for an explanation under the Chemical Weapons Convention, Russia will respond within the set 10-day time limit.
Russia has also requested to be given a sample of the nerve agent used.Russia has also requested to be given a sample of the nerve agent used.
The Russian Embassy in Britain has described the order for diplomats to leave as "unacceptable, unjustified and short-sighted".The Russian Embassy in Britain has described the order for diplomats to leave as "unacceptable, unjustified and short-sighted".
Meanwhile a suspect in the 2006 murder of former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko has told Russian news agency Interfax that determining responsibility has to be done by "serious expert analysis". Meanwhile, a suspect in the 2006 murder of former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko has told Russian news agency Interfax that determining responsibility has to be done by "serious expert analysis".
Andrei Lugovoi said: "Any chemist or physicist will tell you that in order to determine the involvement or non-involvement of a country, there must at least be some serious expert analyses carried out at a serious expert level. Andrei Lugovoi, who is now a Russian MP, said: "Any chemist or physicist will tell you that in order to determine the involvement or non-involvement of a country, there must at least be some serious expert analyses carried out at a serious expert level.
"When such statements are made within a few days (of the incident), the only thing this shows is the irresponsibility of the person who makes them. It may also indicate that to find the truth is not the aim.""When such statements are made within a few days (of the incident), the only thing this shows is the irresponsibility of the person who makes them. It may also indicate that to find the truth is not the aim."
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. 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. 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".
His daughter, Yulia, would regularly travel to the UK from her home in Moscow to visit her father, 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."
She had an "excellent" relationship with her father, Ms Petrova said, and had been the "perfect kid", getting 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.
Ms Skripal, who friends say worked for multinationals including Nike and PepsiCo, was "always smiling, just like her mother", Ms Petrova added.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.
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.
Do you have any information to share on this story? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Do you have any information to share on this story? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts.You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts.
Or use the form belowOr use the form below