This article is from the source 'independent' 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.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/salisbury-poisoning-russia-novichok-nerve-agent-porton-down-proof-evidence-mod-latest-a8286761.html

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Salisbury poisoning: UK experts cannot prove novichok nerve agent used on Skripals came from Russia, say MoD Salisbury poisoning: UK experts cannot prove novichok nerve agent used on Skripals came from Russia, say MoD
(35 minutes later)
British scientists cannot prove that the novichok nerve agent used to poison ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter was made in Russia, the military laboratory which tested it has said.British scientists cannot prove that the novichok nerve agent used to poison ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter was made in Russia, the military laboratory which tested it has said.
Experts at the Porton Down research laboratory were unable to establish “the precise source” of the chemical weapon, the chief executive of the Ministry of Defence facility told Sky News. He added the government had used “a number of other sources to piece together” the conclusion that the Kremlin was responsible.Experts at the Porton Down research laboratory were unable to establish “the precise source” of the chemical weapon, the chief executive of the Ministry of Defence facility told Sky News. He added the government had used “a number of other sources to piece together” the conclusion that the Kremlin was responsible.
The admission comes after Russia demanded the UK present “every possible element of evidence” that it was responsible for the suspected assassination attempt that has triggered a global diplomatic row and plunged Moscow’s relationship with many western nations to lows not seen since the Cold War.The admission comes after Russia demanded the UK present “every possible element of evidence” that it was responsible for the suspected assassination attempt that has triggered a global diplomatic row and plunged Moscow’s relationship with many western nations to lows not seen since the Cold War.
The Kremlin denies any involvement in the 4 March attack, which left Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia fighting for life, but the British government has said there is “no other plausible explanation”.The Kremlin denies any involvement in the 4 March attack, which left Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia fighting for life, but the British government has said there is “no other plausible explanation”.
Gary Aitkenhead, chief executive of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down science park near Salisbury, Wiltshire, said the nerve agent required “extremely sophisticated methods to create, something only in the capabilities of a state actor”.Gary Aitkenhead, chief executive of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down science park near Salisbury, Wiltshire, said the nerve agent required “extremely sophisticated methods to create, something only in the capabilities of a state actor”.
But he added scientists could not say if the chemical was produced in Russia and that verifying its origin required “other inputs”, some of them intelligence-based, that the government has access to.But he added scientists could not say if the chemical was produced in Russia and that verifying its origin required “other inputs”, some of them intelligence-based, that the government has access to.
Mr Aitkenhead said: “We were able to identify it as novichok, to identify that it was military-grade nerve agent.Mr Aitkenhead said: “We were able to identify it as novichok, to identify that it was military-grade nerve agent.
“We have not identified the precise source, but we have provided the scientific info to government who have then used a number of other sources to piece together the conclusions you have come to.“We have not identified the precise source, but we have provided the scientific info to government who have then used a number of other sources to piece together the conclusions you have come to.
“It is our job to provide the scientific evidence of what this particular nerve agent is, we identified that it is from this particular family and that it is a military grade, but it is not our job to say where it was manufactured.”“It is our job to provide the scientific evidence of what this particular nerve agent is, we identified that it is from this particular family and that it is a military grade, but it is not our job to say where it was manufactured.”
His comments are likely to be seized upon by the Kremlin, which has denied the existence of a nerve agent programme and whose foreign minister on Monday claimed it would have been “beneficial to the British government” to poison Mr Skripal.His comments are likely to be seized upon by the Kremlin, which has denied the existence of a nerve agent programme and whose foreign minister on Monday claimed it would have been “beneficial to the British government” to poison Mr Skripal.
However, the Government insisted the interview did not undermine its previous statements about Russian culpability, because it had never been for Porton Down to determine the origin of the novichok used.
“This is only one part of the intelligence picture,” a spokesperson said.
“As the Prime Minister has set out in a number of statements to the Commons since 12 March, this includes our knowledge that, within the last decade, Russia has investigated ways of delivering nerve agents probably for assassination – and as part of this programme has produced and stockpiled small quantities of novichoks; Russia’s record of conducting state-sponsored assassinations; and our assessment that Russia views former intelligence officers as targets.
“It is our assessment that Russia was responsible for this brazen an reckless act and, as the international community agrees, there is no other plausible explanation.”
Novichoks are a group of powerful nerve agents first developed in secret by the Soviet Union in the 1970s.Novichoks are a group of powerful nerve agents first developed in secret by the Soviet Union in the 1970s.
Some experts have suggested other countries may have developed stock of the chemicals in order to defend against it, while there are also fears small amounts may have been smuggled out of Russian facilities following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992. Some experts have suggested other countries may have developed stock of the chemicals in order to defend against it, while there are also fears small amounts may have been smuggled out of Russian facilities following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992. 
Mr Aitkenhead would not comment on whether his laboratory kept supples of novichoks, but dismissed the suggestion the agent used in the Salisbury attack could have come from Porton Down.Mr Aitkenhead would not comment on whether his laboratory kept supples of novichoks, but dismissed the suggestion the agent used in the Salisbury attack could have come from Porton Down.
“There is no way anything like that could have come from us or left the four walls of our facility,” he said.“There is no way anything like that could have come from us or left the four walls of our facility,” he said.
The UK government said its scientific analysis of the nerve agent used in Salisbury was “only one part of the intelligence picture” that pointed to Russian involvement in the attack.
“We have been clear from the very beginning that our world-leading experts at Porton Down identified the substance used in Salisbury as a novichok, a military grade nerve agent,” a spokesman said.
“This is only one part of the intelligence picture. As the Prime Minister has set out in a number of statements to the Commons since 12 March, this includes our knowledge that within the last decade, Russia has investigated ways of delivering nerve agents probably for assassination – and as part of this programme has produced and stockpiled small quantities of Novichoks; Russia’s record of conducting state-sponsored assassinations; and our assessment that Russia views former intelligence officers as targets.
“It is our assessment that Russia was responsible for this brazen and reckless act and, as the international community agrees, there is no other plausible explanation.”
The international chemical weapons watchdog is to hold an extraordinary session on Wednesday to discuss the Salisbury poisoning and Russia’s alleged involvement.The international chemical weapons watchdog is to hold an extraordinary session on Wednesday to discuss the Salisbury poisoning and Russia’s alleged involvement.
“We hope to discuss the whole matter and call on Britain to provide every possible element of evidence they might have in their hands,” said Yury Filatov, Moscow’s ambassador to Ireland, ahead of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons meeting in The Hague.“We hope to discuss the whole matter and call on Britain to provide every possible element of evidence they might have in their hands,” said Yury Filatov, Moscow’s ambassador to Ireland, ahead of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons meeting in The Hague.
He added: “Russia is interested in establishing the whole truth of the matter and we hope certainly that this meeting will help to return to at least the realm of normality within the realm of international law and, let’s put it, decency in international relations.”He added: “Russia is interested in establishing the whole truth of the matter and we hope certainly that this meeting will help to return to at least the realm of normality within the realm of international law and, let’s put it, decency in international relations.”
Britain and its allies have expelled from than 150 Russian diplomats over the poisoning, prompting the Kremlin to banish foreign envoys from Moscow in a tit-for-tat response.Britain and its allies have expelled from than 150 Russian diplomats over the poisoning, prompting the Kremlin to banish foreign envoys from Moscow in a tit-for-tat response.
Mr Filatov claimed many European governments did not trust the UK’s version of events.Mr Filatov claimed many European governments did not trust the UK’s version of events.
“Even countries which took part in solidarity demands have doubts,” he said. ”They acted, as we know, on grounds which have nothing to do with Salisbury but mainly to do with some other agenda bilaterally or multilaterally.”“Even countries which took part in solidarity demands have doubts,” he said. ”They acted, as we know, on grounds which have nothing to do with Salisbury but mainly to do with some other agenda bilaterally or multilaterally.”
The ambassador’s comments as a former Russian general warned the response to the Salisbury the attack could trigger “the last war in the history of mankind”. The ambassador’s comments as a former Russian general warned the response to the Salisbury the attack could trigger “the last war in the history of mankind”. 
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Evgeny Buzhinsky said the West was “cornering Russia and to corner Russia is a very dangerous thing.”Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Evgeny Buzhinsky said the West was “cornering Russia and to corner Russia is a very dangerous thing.”
He added: “If the situation develops in the way it is now, it will end up in a very bad outcome.”He added: “If the situation develops in the way it is now, it will end up in a very bad outcome.”