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| Russian spy attack: UK encouraged by support from allies, says Johnson | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A nerve agent attack on former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter “clearly came from Russia” and will have consequences, the US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, has said, as Theresa May gave Russia till midnight on Tuesday to explain the poisoning in Salisbury. | A nerve agent attack on former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter “clearly came from Russia” and will have consequences, the US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, has said, as Theresa May gave Russia till midnight on Tuesday to explain the poisoning in Salisbury. |
| Tillerson’s remarks went even further than the prime minister’s comments to the House of Commons on Monday, where she said it was “highly likely” Russia was behind the attack, which used the military-grade Novichok nerve agent produced by Russia. | Tillerson’s remarks went even further than the prime minister’s comments to the House of Commons on Monday, where she said it was “highly likely” Russia was behind the attack, which used the military-grade Novichok nerve agent produced by Russia. |
| Tillerson, who spoke to Boris Johnson on Tuesday, told journalists travelling with him in Africa that the Novichok agent was “only in the hands of a very, very limited number of parties” and said it was “almost beyond comprehension” that a state actor would use such a dangerous substance in a public place. | Tillerson, who spoke to Boris Johnson on Tuesday, told journalists travelling with him in Africa that the Novichok agent was “only in the hands of a very, very limited number of parties” and said it was “almost beyond comprehension” that a state actor would use such a dangerous substance in a public place. |
| Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko, will be asked to explain by midnight on Tuesday whether the Russian state was behind the attack in the cathedral city, or whether it had allowed the nerve agent to fall into the wrong hands, May said. | Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko, will be asked to explain by midnight on Tuesday whether the Russian state was behind the attack in the cathedral city, or whether it had allowed the nerve agent to fall into the wrong hands, May said. |
| If no credible explanation is received, May said it would amount to “an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the United Kingdom”. | If no credible explanation is received, May said it would amount to “an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the United Kingdom”. |
| Should no credible explanation be given, the UK is likely to expel a number of diplomats, more than the four who were told to leave the UK after the death of former Russian security agent Alexander Litvinenko. The UK may also potentially mount a covert cyber-offensive against the Kremlin. | Should no credible explanation be given, the UK is likely to expel a number of diplomats, more than the four who were told to leave the UK after the death of former Russian security agent Alexander Litvinenko. The UK may also potentially mount a covert cyber-offensive against the Kremlin. |
| Any direct action may be covered under article 51 of the UN charter, which allows for legitimate self-defence but Downing Street denied May was attempting to win support to invoke article 5 of the Nato treaty on common defence. | Any direct action may be covered under article 51 of the UN charter, which allows for legitimate self-defence but Downing Street denied May was attempting to win support to invoke article 5 of the Nato treaty on common defence. |
| Asked if the UK was approaching Nato to ask for help, housing minister Dominic Raab told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the prime minister “chose her words very carefully” in her statement to the Commons to refer to an “unlawful use of force, which has a different meaning in international law to an armed attack ... I don’t think we’re down the territory you’re discussing there.” | Asked if the UK was approaching Nato to ask for help, housing minister Dominic Raab told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the prime minister “chose her words very carefully” in her statement to the Commons to refer to an “unlawful use of force, which has a different meaning in international law to an armed attack ... I don’t think we’re down the territory you’re discussing there.” |
| The UK government may also decide to formally support amendments to the sanctions and anti-money laundering bill to target the persecutors of Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian accountant who died after he revealed a huge state-sponsored fraud. | The UK government may also decide to formally support amendments to the sanctions and anti-money laundering bill to target the persecutors of Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian accountant who died after he revealed a huge state-sponsored fraud. |
| The measures, which the FCO has previously resisted saying it already has the full confiscatory powers it needs, are highly symbolic, having been already formally adopted by the US, but ministers are likely to support a specific Magnitsky clause in the bill at report stage. | The measures, which the FCO has previously resisted saying it already has the full confiscatory powers it needs, are highly symbolic, having been already formally adopted by the US, but ministers are likely to support a specific Magnitsky clause in the bill at report stage. |
| Raab told Today he “would be delighted to see the most robust approach”. | Raab told Today he “would be delighted to see the most robust approach”. |
| Ministers may also examine whether to direct the broadcasting regulator Ofcom to investigate whether Russian media outlets such as RT are fit to hold a broadcasting licence and whether senior officials can be told to boycott the football World Cup in Russia this summer. | Ministers may also examine whether to direct the broadcasting regulator Ofcom to investigate whether Russian media outlets such as RT are fit to hold a broadcasting licence and whether senior officials can be told to boycott the football World Cup in Russia this summer. |
| May will seek support for the UK’s response from the US, the European Union and Nato. In a formal statement, the US state department said it had “full confidence in the UK’s investigation and its assessment that Russia was likely responsible”. | May will seek support for the UK’s response from the US, the European Union and Nato. In a formal statement, the US state department said it had “full confidence in the UK’s investigation and its assessment that Russia was likely responsible”. |
| “Those responsible – both those who committed the crime and those who ordered it – must face appropriately serious consequences. We stand in solidarity with our allies in the United Kingdom and will continue to coordinate closely our responses,” the statement said. | “Those responsible – both those who committed the crime and those who ordered it – must face appropriately serious consequences. We stand in solidarity with our allies in the United Kingdom and will continue to coordinate closely our responses,” the statement said. |
| The French president, Emmanuel Macron, also spoke to May by telephone on Tuesday night. Downing Street said Paris offered its full solidarity and said it would “coordinate closely” on the UK’s agreed response. | The French president, Emmanuel Macron, also spoke to May by telephone on Tuesday night. Downing Street said Paris offered its full solidarity and said it would “coordinate closely” on the UK’s agreed response. |
| “They discussed the wide pattern of aggressive Russian behaviour and agreed that it would be important to continue to act in concert with allies to address it,” a No 10 spokesman said. | “They discussed the wide pattern of aggressive Russian behaviour and agreed that it would be important to continue to act in concert with allies to address it,” a No 10 spokesman said. |
| Action was also backed by the Nato secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, who said the incident was “of great concern” to the bloc. “The use of any nerve agent is horrendous and completely unacceptable,” he said. “Nato is in touch with the UK authorities on this issue.” | Action was also backed by the Nato secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, who said the incident was “of great concern” to the bloc. “The use of any nerve agent is horrendous and completely unacceptable,” he said. “Nato is in touch with the UK authorities on this issue.” |
| Tillerson’s remarks went further than the White House, where the press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, said the attack was “reckless, indiscriminate and irresponsible” but did not point the finger directly at Russia. “We stand by our closest ally and the special relationship that we have,” Sanders said. | Tillerson’s remarks went further than the White House, where the press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, said the attack was “reckless, indiscriminate and irresponsible” but did not point the finger directly at Russia. “We stand by our closest ally and the special relationship that we have,” Sanders said. |
| On Tuesday, former foreign secretary William Hague said the west needed to “wake up” to the threat Russia posed and the armoury it had at its disposal. | On Tuesday, former foreign secretary William Hague said the west needed to “wake up” to the threat Russia posed and the armoury it had at its disposal. |
| “Can it really be true that Russia is equipping itself to snap the undersea cables on which all our communications and finances depend? Afraid it is,” Hague wrote in his column for the Telegraph. “Are they actually positioning themselves to hack into our vital national infrastructure and disrupt it? Looks like it. | “Can it really be true that Russia is equipping itself to snap the undersea cables on which all our communications and finances depend? Afraid it is,” Hague wrote in his column for the Telegraph. “Are they actually positioning themselves to hack into our vital national infrastructure and disrupt it? Looks like it. |
| “Can they possibly maintain Soviet levels of espionage and covert activity in our free European societies? You bet they can. Are they flying aggressive sorties to test our air defences? Yup. And surely they’re not developing new chemicals and deadly poisons as well? Of course they are.” | “Can they possibly maintain Soviet levels of espionage and covert activity in our free European societies? You bet they can. Are they flying aggressive sorties to test our air defences? Yup. And surely they’re not developing new chemicals and deadly poisons as well? Of course they are.” |
| Russia has denied it is behind the attack on Skripal, a former double agent who came to the UK in a spy swap in 2010, and his daughter Yulia, who remain in hospital. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called May’s statement to the Commons “a circus show in the British parliament... it’s another political information campaign, based on a provocation.” | Russia has denied it is behind the attack on Skripal, a former double agent who came to the UK in a spy swap in 2010, and his daughter Yulia, who remain in hospital. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called May’s statement to the Commons “a circus show in the British parliament... it’s another political information campaign, based on a provocation.” |
| In one of the most chilling episodes of the cold war, the Bulgarian dissident was poisoned with a specially adapted umbrella on Waterloo Bridge. As he waited for a bus, Markov felt a sharp prick in his leg. The opposition activist, who was an irritant to the communist government of Bulgaria, died three days later. A deadly pellet containing ricin was found in his skin. His unknown assassin is thought to have been from the secret services in Bulgaria. | In one of the most chilling episodes of the cold war, the Bulgarian dissident was poisoned with a specially adapted umbrella on Waterloo Bridge. As he waited for a bus, Markov felt a sharp prick in his leg. The opposition activist, who was an irritant to the communist government of Bulgaria, died three days later. A deadly pellet containing ricin was found in his skin. His unknown assassin is thought to have been from the secret services in Bulgaria. |
| The fatal poisoning of the former FSB officer sparked an international incident. Litvinenko fell ill after drinking tea laced with radioactive polonium. He met his killers in a bar of the Millennium hotel in Mayfair. The pair were Andrei Lugovoi – a former KGB officer turned businessman, who is now a deputy in Russia’s state Duma – and Dmitry Kovtun, a childhood friend of Lugovoi’s from a Soviet military family. Putin denied all involvement and refused to extradite either of the killers. | The fatal poisoning of the former FSB officer sparked an international incident. Litvinenko fell ill after drinking tea laced with radioactive polonium. He met his killers in a bar of the Millennium hotel in Mayfair. The pair were Andrei Lugovoi – a former KGB officer turned businessman, who is now a deputy in Russia’s state Duma – and Dmitry Kovtun, a childhood friend of Lugovoi’s from a Soviet military family. Putin denied all involvement and refused to extradite either of the killers. |
| The exiled Russian banker survived an attempt on his life as he got out of a cab in east London. He was shot four times with a silenced pistol. He had been involved in a bitter dispute with two former business partners. | The exiled Russian banker survived an attempt on his life as he got out of a cab in east London. He was shot four times with a silenced pistol. He had been involved in a bitter dispute with two former business partners. |
| The businessman collapsed while running near his home in Surrey. Traces of a chemical that can be found in the poisonous plant gelsemium were later found in his stomach. Before his death, Perepilichnyy was helping a specialist investment firm uncover a $230m Russian money-laundering operation, a pre-inquest hearing was told. Hermitage Capital Management claimed that Perepilichnyy could have been deliberately killed for helping it uncover the scam involving Russian officials. He may have eaten a popular Russian dish containing the herb sorrel on the day of his death, which could have been poisoned. | The businessman collapsed while running near his home in Surrey. Traces of a chemical that can be found in the poisonous plant gelsemium were later found in his stomach. Before his death, Perepilichnyy was helping a specialist investment firm uncover a $230m Russian money-laundering operation, a pre-inquest hearing was told. Hermitage Capital Management claimed that Perepilichnyy could have been deliberately killed for helping it uncover the scam involving Russian officials. He may have eaten a popular Russian dish containing the herb sorrel on the day of his death, which could have been poisoned. |
| The exiled billionaire was found hanged in an apparent suicide after he had spent more than decade waging a high-profile media battle against his one-time protege Putin. A coroner recorded an open verdict after hearing conflicting expert evidence about the way he died. A pathologist who conducted a postmortem examination on the businessman’s body said he could not rule out murder. | The exiled billionaire was found hanged in an apparent suicide after he had spent more than decade waging a high-profile media battle against his one-time protege Putin. A coroner recorded an open verdict after hearing conflicting expert evidence about the way he died. A pathologist who conducted a postmortem examination on the businessman’s body said he could not rule out murder. |
| An associate of Berezovsky whom he helped to launder money, he was found impaled on railings after he fell from a fourth-floor flat in central London. A coroner ruled that there was insufficient evidence of suicide. But Young, who was sent to prison in January 2013 for repeatedly refusing to reveal his finances during a divorce row, told his partner he was going to jump out of the window moments before he was found. | An associate of Berezovsky whom he helped to launder money, he was found impaled on railings after he fell from a fourth-floor flat in central London. A coroner ruled that there was insufficient evidence of suicide. But Young, who was sent to prison in January 2013 for repeatedly refusing to reveal his finances during a divorce row, told his partner he was going to jump out of the window moments before he was found. |
| During an election visit, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, dismissed questions about the Skripals when confronted by the BBC, saying: “Get to the bottom of things there, then we’ll discuss this.” | During an election visit, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, dismissed questions about the Skripals when confronted by the BBC, saying: “Get to the bottom of things there, then we’ll discuss this.” |
| The UK’s national security council was expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss the Russian response, before the prime minister updates MPs. The home secretary, Amber Rudd, will chair a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergencies committee in Whitehall on Tuesday morning to discuss the latest developments. | The UK’s national security council was expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss the Russian response, before the prime minister updates MPs. The home secretary, Amber Rudd, will chair a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergencies committee in Whitehall on Tuesday morning to discuss the latest developments. |
| Sergei Skripal | Sergei Skripal |
| Russia | Russia |
| Rex Tillerson | Rex Tillerson |
| Foreign policy | Foreign policy |
| Vladimir Putin | Vladimir Putin |
| Espionage | Espionage |
| news | news |
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