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OPCW confirms British findings over substance used in Salisbury poisoning OPCW confirms British findings over substance used in Salisbury poisoning
(35 minutes later)
The OPCW has released its findings into the Skripal poisoning, the watchdog announced that it confirmed the British findings over which nerve agent was used . The OPCW has released its findings into the Skripal poisoning, with the watchdog confirming the UK's conclusions over the nerve agent used. It did not elaborate on the origin of the substance, only detailing its chemical make-up.
The testing was carried out by four laboratories affiliated with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) says it has confirmed British findings on the nerve agent used in last month's poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the English city of Salisbury.
In a summary of its conclusions, the OPCW says it has confirmed British findings on the nerve agent used in last month's poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the southern English city of Salisbury. The testing was carried out by four laboratories affiliated with the OPCW at Britain’s request. The watchdog did not assign blame for the attack or specifically name the chemical agent in the summary of its findings, although said it has been named in the full classified report.  
UK Prime Minister Theresa May declared on March 12 that the Skripals had been poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent identified as A-234 (also known as Novichok).   "The results of analysis by OPCW-designated laboratories of environmental and biomedical samples collected by the OPCW team confirm the findings of the United Kingdom relating to the identity of the toxic chemical that was used in Salisbury and severely injured three people", the OPCW said.
The part of the report that has been released does not specifically name 'Novichok', and it does not suggest where the nerve agent may have come from. The watchdog also found "the toxic chemical was of high purity" because of an "almost complete absence of impurities."
UK Prime Minister Theresa May declared on March 12 that the Skripals had been poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent identified as A-234, also known as Novichok.  
DETAILS TO FOLLOW The part of the report that has been released does not specifically name Novichok, and it does not suggest where the nerve agent may have come from.  
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, however, claimed the findings meant that there was “no doubt” of Russia’s responsibility for the incident. Johnson demanded that Russia “give answers” as “only Russia has the means, motive and record [for the poisoning].”
Last week, Johnson faced accusations of misleading the British public after he said in a televised interview that scientists at the government's military laboratory, Porton Down, had told him the nerve agent definitely came from Russia. The lab’s chief executive later said they had done no such thing.
Russia has consistently denied any involvement in the poisoning. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Britain would have to apologize to Russia for its “mad accusations.”
The OPCW will hold a special session on the incident next Wednesday.