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-43390885

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Russian spy: Police appeal over Sergei Skripal's red BMW Russian spy: Embassy warns UK against 'punitive' measures
(35 minutes later)
Police investigating the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter have appealed for witnesses who saw the pair's red BMW car before the attack. The UK's threat of "punitive" measures against Russia over the poisoning of a former spy and his daughter will "meet with a response", Russia has said.
Sergei Skripal, 66, and Yulia, 33, parked the vehicle in Salisbury city centre - less than three hours before they were found slumped on a bench. Russia's UK embassy posted a series of tweets as a deadline looms for it to explain how a Russia-made nerve agent was used in the 4 March incident.
It comes as a deadline looms for Moscow to explain how a Russia-made nerve agent was used in the 4 March incident. It said there would be no reply to the "ultimatum" until it is given access to samples of the nerve agent used.
Russia's embassy says any UK measures "will meet with a response". No 10 said Donald Trump has told the PM the "US was with the UK all the way".
It said Moscow "will not respond to London's ultimatum" until it is given access to samples of the nerve agent used in the attack. In a telephone conversation, the US president agreed with Theresa May that the Russian government "must provide unambiguous answers as to how this nerve agent came to be used" against Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, it added.
Prime Minister Theresa May had said the UK must "stand ready" to take action against Russia and this would be set out in the Commons on Wednesday should there be no adequate explanation by midnight on Tuesday. The PM had said the UK must "stand ready" to take action against Russia.
Downing Street said Theresa May spoke by telephone to Donald Trump and the president said the "US was with the UK all the way, agreeing that the Russian government must provide unambiguous answers as to how this nerve agent came to be used". She said details would be set out in the Commons on Wednesday should there be no adequate explanation by midnight on how a military-grade nerve agent developed by Russia - part of a group of nerve agents known as Novichok - was used in Salisbury on 4 March.
Mrs May has also held a telephone conservation with France's President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who both expressed "solidarity" with the UK 's position. Downing Street said Theresa May also held a telephone conservation with France's President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who both expressed "solidarity" with the UK 's position.
But Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov described claims of state involvement as "rubbish". One of the tweets from the Russian embassy said: "Any threat to take 'punitive' measures against Russia will meet with a response. The British side should be aware of that."
Giving an update in the attempted murder investigation, police said former double agent Mr Skripal and his daughter remain critically ill in hospital. The embassy added the UK ambassador in Moscow was summoned to the foreign ministry in Moscow and told the UK's actions were a "clear provocation" and Russia was not involved in the poisoning.
Giving an update in the attempted murder investigation, police said former double agent Mr Skripal and his daughter remain critically ill in hospital after being found slumped on a park bench in the centre of Salisbury.
Det Sgt Nick Bailey, who fell ill responding to the incident, is in a serious but stable condition.Det Sgt Nick Bailey, who fell ill responding to the incident, is in a serious but stable condition.
Speaking outside New Scotland Yard, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said 35 other people had been seen in hospital, of whom 34 had been assessed and discharged, while the condition of one person is being monitored as an outpatient.Speaking outside New Scotland Yard, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said 35 other people had been seen in hospital, of whom 34 had been assessed and discharged, while the condition of one person is being monitored as an outpatient.
Mr Basu revealed that Miss Skripal had flown into Heathrow Airport on Saturday, 3 March.Mr Basu revealed that Miss Skripal had flown into Heathrow Airport on Saturday, 3 March.
He also appealed for witnesses who saw the pair's red BMW car before the attack.
He appealed for witnesses who saw the pair in her father's car - licence plate number HD09 WAO - between 13:00 and 13.45 GMT on the day of the poisoning.He appealed for witnesses who saw the pair in her father's car - licence plate number HD09 WAO - between 13:00 and 13.45 GMT on the day of the poisoning.
The car was left in Sainsbury's upper level car park in the Maltings shopping area before the Skripals went to the Bishops Mill Pub and then the restaurant Zizzi.The car was left in Sainsbury's upper level car park in the Maltings shopping area before the Skripals went to the Bishops Mill Pub and then the restaurant Zizzi.
Mr Basu said the police investigation will take "many weeks", with the "prime focus" being how the poison was administered.Mr Basu said the police investigation will take "many weeks", with the "prime focus" being how the poison was administered.
However, he said detectives were "not declaring a person of interest or suspect at this time".However, he said detectives were "not declaring a person of interest or suspect at this time".
Police also confirmed that Mr Skripal, who came to the UK in 2010 as part of a "spy swap" after he had been convicted by Russia of passing information to MI6, was a British citizen. Police confirmed that Mr Skripal, who came to the UK in 2010 as part of a "spy swap" after he had been convicted by Russia of passing information to MI6, was a British citizen.
Mrs May told MPs on Monday that the poison used in the attack was a military-grade nerve agent developed by Russia. She said it was part of a group of nerve agents known as Novichok.
In other developments:In other developments:
How could the UK retaliate against Russia?How could the UK retaliate against Russia?
Mrs May said the UK must "stand ready to take much more extensive measures" against Russia than it had previously.Mrs May said the UK must "stand ready to take much more extensive measures" against Russia than it had previously.
She said these measures would be set out in the Commons on Wednesday should there be no adequate explanation from Russia.She said these measures would be set out in the Commons on Wednesday should there be no adequate explanation from Russia.
Britain could expel Russian diplomats, as it did after the poisoning of former Russian Federal Security Service operative Alexander Litvinenko in 2006 with radioactive polonium.Britain could expel Russian diplomats, as it did after the poisoning of former Russian Federal Security Service operative Alexander Litvinenko in 2006 with radioactive polonium.
But many argue that this, and the other measures that were taken after that killing - including visa restrictions on Russian officials - did not go far enough.But many argue that this, and the other measures that were taken after that killing - including visa restrictions on Russian officials - did not go far enough.
So what else could the UK do?So what else could the UK do?
Other possible actions could include:Other possible actions could include:
Read more on how the UK could retaliateRead more on how the UK could retaliate
Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morningGet news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning