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Russian spy: What we know so far Russian spy: What we know so far
(about 2 hours later)
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 conducting an attempted murder investigation 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 condition after being found slumped on a bench near the Maltings shopping centre on Sunday afternoon.Sergei Skripal, 66, and Yulia Skripal, 33, remain in a critical condition after being found slumped on a bench near the Maltings shopping centre on Sunday afternoon.
The first police officer to reach the scene is also in a serious condition in hospital but Home Secretary Amber Rudd said on Thursday he was "talking and engaging". The first police officer to reach the scene is in a serious but stable condition in hospital. Home Secretary Amber Rudd said on Thursday he was "talking and engaging".
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.
So what exactly is going on? Here's what we know - and don't know - so far.
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.
Officers were alerted to the incident by a concerned member of the public at about 16:15 GMT.Officers were alerted to the incident by a concerned member of the public at about 16:15 GMT.
You may also be interested in: Police said they wanted to speak to anyone who was in the centre of Salisbury on Sunday afternoon, particularly those who ate at Zizzi or drank in The Mill pub between 13:00 GMT and 16:00 GMT.
The pair, who did not have any visible injuries, were taken to Salisbury District Hospital where they are being treated in intensive care.The pair, who did not have any visible injuries, were taken to Salisbury District Hospital where they are being treated in intensive care.
The first police officer to reach the scene is also seriously ill in hospital. The first police officer to reach the scene was also taken to hospital and placed in intensive care but police say his condition is now stable.
Two other police officers were treated in hospital for minor symptoms - believed to be itchy eyes and wheezing.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 Mill pub remain sealed off as a precaution.
The 'quintessentially English' home of a Russian spy There is also a cordon in place outside Mr Skripal's Salisbury home and part of a business park in nearby Amesbury.
Who is Sergei Skripal? Who are the victims?
Colonel Skripal is a retired Russian military intelligence officer who was jailed for 13 years by Russia in 2006. 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 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.
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 Mr Skripal gave lectures at military academies offering insights into Russia's foreign military intelligence agency, the GRU.
Daughter, and family deaths 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".
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.
According to her Facebook page she moved to London in 2010 - the same year her father was released from prison and sent to the UK.
Her Facebook page also says she worked for the Holiday Inn and Nike and is currently employed by PepsiCo.
What else do we know about his family?
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.His son, Alexander Skripal, died aged 43 last July in St Petersburg from liver failure.
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.
Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning Where have the police got to in their investigation?
What are police doing?
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.
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".
The forensic work in Salisbury may take several days, he said. He asked anyone with information to call 999.The forensic work in Salisbury may take several days, he said. He asked anyone with information to call 999.
Police said they wanted to speak to anyone who was in the centre of Salisbury on Sunday afternoon, particularly those who ate at Zizzi or drank in the Bishop's Mill pub between 13:00 GMT and 16:00 GMT.
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.
Scientists at the UK's military research facility at Porton Down have spent days examining the substance which harmed the Skripals.Scientists at the UK's military research facility at Porton Down have spent days examining the substance which harmed the Skripals.
How has the government responded?How has the government responded?
Home Secretary Amber Rudd told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the government would "have a plan in place" in the event that a culprit was identified.Home Secretary Amber Rudd told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the government would "have a plan in place" in the event that a culprit was identified.
In a statement to MPs on Thursday she said the public rightly wanted to know who was responsible for this "brazen and reckless act" but added that speculation should be avoided and the police allowed to carry out their investigation.
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 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.
What did locals see?What did locals see?
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. "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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One witness, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the BBC that he saw Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Zizzi at about 14:00 GMT.
He said Mr Skripal appeared to lose his temper and was shouting at employees - "It was very, very strange behaviour," he said.
The witness described Yulia Skripal as quieter than her father with dark hair.
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