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| Russian spy: What are Novichok agents and what do they do? | Russian spy: What are Novichok agents and what do they do? |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A former Russian spy and his daughter were poisoned by a chemical that is part of a group of nerve agents known as Novichok, UK Prime Minister Theresa May has said. | A former Russian spy and his daughter were poisoned by a chemical that is part of a group of nerve agents known as Novichok, UK Prime Minister Theresa May has said. |
| France, Germany and the US have backed the UK's assessment that Russian involvement is the "only plausible explanation", in spite of Russian denials. | France, Germany and the US have backed the UK's assessment that Russian involvement is the "only plausible explanation", in spite of Russian denials. |
| Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, remain critically ill after the attempted murder in Salisbury on 4 March. | Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, remain critically ill after the attempted murder in Salisbury on 4 March. |
| The chemical was identified by experts at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down. | The chemical was identified by experts at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down. |
| So what do we know about this group of military-grade nerve agents? | So what do we know about this group of military-grade nerve agents? |
| 1) They were developed in the Soviet Union | 1) They were developed in the Soviet Union |
| The name Novichok means "newcomer" in Russian, and applies to a group of advanced nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s. | The name Novichok means "newcomer" in Russian, and applies to a group of advanced nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s. |
| They were known as fourth-generation chemical weapons and were developed under a Soviet programme codenamed Foliant. | They were known as fourth-generation chemical weapons and were developed under a Soviet programme codenamed Foliant. |
| Novichok's existence was revealed by chemist Dr Vil Mirzayanov in the 1990s, via Russian media. He later defected to the US, where he published the chemical formula in his book, State Secrets. | Novichok's existence was revealed by chemist Dr Vil Mirzayanov in the 1990s, via Russian media. He later defected to the US, where he published the chemical formula in his book, State Secrets. |
| In 1999, defence officials from the US travelled to Uzbekistan to help dismantle and decontaminate one of the former Soviet Union's largest chemical weapons testing facilities. | In 1999, defence officials from the US travelled to Uzbekistan to help dismantle and decontaminate one of the former Soviet Union's largest chemical weapons testing facilities. |
| According to Dr Mirzayanov, the Soviets used the plant to produce and test small batches of Novichok. These nerve agents were designed to escape detection by international inspectors. | According to Dr Mirzayanov, the Soviets used the plant to produce and test small batches of Novichok. These nerve agents were designed to escape detection by international inspectors. |
| 2) They are more toxic than other agents | 2) They are more toxic than other agents |
| One of the group of chemicals known as Novichoks - A-230 - is reportedly five to eight times more toxic than VX nerve agent. | One of the group of chemicals known as Novichoks - A-230 - is reportedly five to eight times more toxic than VX nerve agent. |
| "This is a more dangerous and sophisticated agent than sarin or VX and is harder to identify," says Professor Gary Stephens, a pharmacology expert at the University of Reading. | "This is a more dangerous and sophisticated agent than sarin or VX and is harder to identify," says Professor Gary Stephens, a pharmacology expert at the University of Reading. |
| VX agent was the chemical used to kill the half-brother of Kim Jong-un last year, according to the US. | VX agent was the chemical used to kill the half-brother of Kim Jong-un last year, according to the US. |
| A number of variants of A-230 have been manufactured. One of these experimental chemicals - A-232 - was reportedly used by the Russian military as the basis for a chemical weapon known as Novichok-5. | A number of variants of A-230 have been manufactured. One of these experimental chemicals - A-232 - was reportedly used by the Russian military as the basis for a chemical weapon known as Novichok-5. |
| Russia's ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko, has suggested British authorities have identified the variant used in the Skripal attack as A-234. | |
| Speaking to Rossiya 24 TV, he said: "According to their specification, it's the poisonous substance A-234. That's the British classification." | |
| The BBC's security correspondent Gordon Corera says the implication of these comments is that Russia has been informed by the British of the specific agent used. | |
| But he adds: "So far, British officials have not confirmed that they have communicated this to Moscow, or that the A-234 was the exact agent deployed. | |
| "Based on public sources, A-234 is one of the Novichok family of agents... Little is known about it but the symptoms track closely with those eyewitnesses attributed to Sergei and Yulia Skripal - as do other similar nerve agents." | |
| 3) Novichoks exist in various forms | 3) Novichoks exist in various forms |
| While some Novichok agents are liquids, others are thought to exist in solid form. This means they could be dispersed as an ultra-fine powder. | While some Novichok agents are liquids, others are thought to exist in solid form. This means they could be dispersed as an ultra-fine powder. |
| Some of the agents are also reported to be "binary weapons", meaning the nerve agent is typically stored as two less toxic chemical ingredients. When these are mixed, they react to produce the active toxic agent. | Some of the agents are also reported to be "binary weapons", meaning the nerve agent is typically stored as two less toxic chemical ingredients. When these are mixed, they react to produce the active toxic agent. |
| This makes the ingredients easier to transport, handle and store as they only become fully toxic when mixed. | This makes the ingredients easier to transport, handle and store as they only become fully toxic when mixed. |
| "One of the main reasons these agents are developed is because their component parts are not on the banned list," says Prof Stephens. "It means the chemicals that are mixed to create it are much easier to deliver with no risk to the health of the courier." | "One of the main reasons these agents are developed is because their component parts are not on the banned list," says Prof Stephens. "It means the chemicals that are mixed to create it are much easier to deliver with no risk to the health of the courier." |
| 4) Some can take effect very quickly | 4) Some can take effect very quickly |
| Novichoks were designed to be more toxic than other chemical weapons, so some versions would begin to take effect rapidly - in the order of 30 seconds to two minutes. | Novichoks were designed to be more toxic than other chemical weapons, so some versions would begin to take effect rapidly - in the order of 30 seconds to two minutes. |
| The main route of exposure is likely to be through inhalation, though they could also be absorbed through the skin. | The main route of exposure is likely to be through inhalation, though they could also be absorbed through the skin. |
| However, in powder form an agent might take longer to cause a reaction. | However, in powder form an agent might take longer to cause a reaction. |
| 5) The symptoms are similar to those of other nerve agents | 5) The symptoms are similar to those of other nerve agents |
| It is thought Novichok agents have similar effects to other nerve agents. | It is thought Novichok agents have similar effects to other nerve agents. |
| This means they act by blocking messages from the nerves to the muscles, causing a collapse of many bodily functions. | This means they act by blocking messages from the nerves to the muscles, causing a collapse of many bodily functions. |
| Symptoms include white eyes, as the pupils become constricted, convulsions, drooling - and in the worse cases, coma, respiratory failure and death. | Symptoms include white eyes, as the pupils become constricted, convulsions, drooling - and in the worse cases, coma, respiratory failure and death. |
| These agents primarily cause a slowing of the heart and restriction of the airways, leading to death by asphyxiation. | These agents primarily cause a slowing of the heart and restriction of the airways, leading to death by asphyxiation. |
| Some Novichok variants have been specifically designed to resist standard nerve agent antidotes. | Some Novichok variants have been specifically designed to resist standard nerve agent antidotes. |
| If a person is exposed to it, their clothing should be removed and their skin washed with soap and water. Their eyes should be rinsed and they should be given oxygen. | If a person is exposed to it, their clothing should be removed and their skin washed with soap and water. Their eyes should be rinsed and they should be given oxygen. |
| Andrei Zheleznyakov, a research assistant at Moscow's State Scientific Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology, is said to have been poisoned by Novichok in 1987. | Andrei Zheleznyakov, a research assistant at Moscow's State Scientific Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology, is said to have been poisoned by Novichok in 1987. |
| Russian newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets spoke to an unnamed "chemist with a long track record", who gave the following stark account of what followed: | Russian newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets spoke to an unnamed "chemist with a long track record", who gave the following stark account of what followed: |
| "First, his legs began to grow numb and then he developed cirrhosis of the liver; he became permanently disabled and died, if I am not mistaken, in 1992. So that if a similar substance was used in the Srkipal case, he and his daughter could survive, but they, too, are probably threatened with permanent disability." | "First, his legs began to grow numb and then he developed cirrhosis of the liver; he became permanently disabled and died, if I am not mistaken, in 1992. So that if a similar substance was used in the Srkipal case, he and his daughter could survive, but they, too, are probably threatened with permanent disability." |
| 6) Could anyone else have made Novichok agents? | 6) Could anyone else have made Novichok agents? |
| Russia's UN ambassador has insisted that development work on Soviet-era nerve agents stopped in 1992, and that existing stockpiles were destroyed in 2017. | Russia's UN ambassador has insisted that development work on Soviet-era nerve agents stopped in 1992, and that existing stockpiles were destroyed in 2017. |
| In September 2017, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirmed the full destruction of the 39,967 metric tons of chemical weapons possessed by Russia. | In September 2017, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirmed the full destruction of the 39,967 metric tons of chemical weapons possessed by Russia. |
| Moscow has denied any involvement in the Skripals' poisoning and demanded proof. | Moscow has denied any involvement in the Skripals' poisoning and demanded proof. |
| A former head of Russia's secret police told local media that Novichok could have been stored in any of the former Soviet states - pointing the finger at Ukraine. | A former head of Russia's secret police told local media that Novichok could have been stored in any of the former Soviet states - pointing the finger at Ukraine. |
| A sample is to be given to the OPCW - the independent international body set up to stop chemical warfare - for analysis. | A sample is to be given to the OPCW - the independent international body set up to stop chemical warfare - for analysis. |
| It called the use of a chemical agent in Salisbury "extremely worrying" in a tweet, adding that "those found responsible for this must be held accountable for their actions". | It called the use of a chemical agent in Salisbury "extremely worrying" in a tweet, adding that "those found responsible for this must be held accountable for their actions". |
| Chemical weapons expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon called for the OPCW to be allowed to visit the Russian town where he alleged the nerve agent was made. | Chemical weapons expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon called for the OPCW to be allowed to visit the Russian town where he alleged the nerve agent was made. |
| "The only other people who could perhaps make Novichoks, if they had the blueprint to do it, would be [DSTL at] Porton Down in the UK, perhaps the US, maybe the French," he said, but added, "I have it on very good authority that Novichoks were only ever made in Shikhany in central Russia." | "The only other people who could perhaps make Novichoks, if they had the blueprint to do it, would be [DSTL at] Porton Down in the UK, perhaps the US, maybe the French," he said, but added, "I have it on very good authority that Novichoks were only ever made in Shikhany in central Russia." |