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Salisbury poisoning: Russia 'targeted' Yulia Skripal email Salisbury poisoning: Russia 'targeted' Yulia Skripal email
(about 1 hour later)
Russian military intelligence targeted Salisbury poisoning victim Yulia Skripal's email account as early as 2013, according to the UK government's national security adviser. Russian intelligence agencies targeted poison victim Yulia Skripal's email account as early as 2013, the UK's national security adviser has said.
In a letter to Nato, Sir Mark Sedwill said there was evidence Russia trained "special units" to use nerve agents. In a letter to Nato, Sir Mark Sedwill said Russia trained "special units" to use nerve agents, including the method of applying them to door handles.
He said the methods included putting nerve agents on door handles, as police say happened in the attack on Yulia, 33, and her ex-spy father Sergei on 4 March. Police say the highest concentration of nerve agent Novichok was on the front door of Mr Skripal's Salisbury home.
The letter was sent ahead of an invitation for Sir Mark to brief Nato on 15 April about the Salisbury attack. Sir Mark is due to brief Nato on Sunday about the 4 March Salisbury attack.
It comes after the international chemical weapons watchdog confirmed the UK's analysis of the type of nerve agent used in the Russian ex-spy poisoning.It comes after the international chemical weapons watchdog confirmed the UK's analysis of the type of nerve agent used in the Russian ex-spy poisoning.
The UK says Ms Skripal and her 66-year-old father, who were found slumped on a park bench in the city, were exposed to the toxic nerve agent Novichok. The UK says Ms Skripal, 33, and her 66-year-old father, who were found slumped on a park bench in the city on 4 March, were exposed to the toxic nerve agent Novichok.
The Russian government has denied any involvement and accused the British of inventing a "fake story".The Russian government has denied any involvement and accused the British of inventing a "fake story".
The Russian embassy, which is publishing its own report into the Salisbury attack, said the UK had not produced "any evidence" to support its claims about the incident.The Russian embassy, which is publishing its own report into the Salisbury attack, said the UK had not produced "any evidence" to support its claims about the incident.
Its ambassador Alexander Yakovenko called Britain's response "quite strange, to put it mildly" as he criticised the UK's refusal to grant consular access to Ms Skripal.Its ambassador Alexander Yakovenko called Britain's response "quite strange, to put it mildly" as he criticised the UK's refusal to grant consular access to Ms Skripal.
Assassination 'tests' Mr Skripal remains at Salisbury District Hospital, while his daughter was discharged on Monday.
'Assassination tests'
Sir Mark's letter to Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is the first time the UK government has claimed to have specific information that the Russians were interested in the Skripal family.Sir Mark's letter to Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is the first time the UK government has claimed to have specific information that the Russians were interested in the Skripal family.
But the details contained in the letter do not identify the exact culprits behind the poison attack.But the details contained in the letter do not identify the exact culprits behind the poison attack.
The letter accuses Russia of testing assassination methods with chemical weapons, including using nerve agents smeared on to door handles.The letter accuses Russia of testing assassination methods with chemical weapons, including using nerve agents smeared on to door handles.
Traces of Novichok have been found at sites across Salisbury at low concentrations following the attack - with the highest concentration of the nerve agent found on the Skripals' door handle.
He said it was "highly likely" people such as Mr Skripal, who was exchanged in a spy swap in 2010 after being convicted of passing information to the UK, may be regarded as "legitimate targets" for "state-sponsored assassination" by Russia.He said it was "highly likely" people such as Mr Skripal, who was exchanged in a spy swap in 2010 after being convicted of passing information to the UK, may be regarded as "legitimate targets" for "state-sponsored assassination" by Russia.
Sir Mark says the UK government continues "to judge that only Russia has the technical means, operational experience and motive for the attack on the Skripals and that it is highly likely that the Russian state was responsible".Sir Mark says the UK government continues "to judge that only Russia has the technical means, operational experience and motive for the attack on the Skripals and that it is highly likely that the Russian state was responsible".
"There is no plausible alternative explanation," he added."There is no plausible alternative explanation," he added.
The letter also claims President Vladimir Putin was closely involved in the Russian chemical weapons programme in the mid-2000s, and that it was "highly unlikely" any former Soviet republic other than Russia pursued chemical weapons after independence.The letter also claims President Vladimir Putin was closely involved in the Russian chemical weapons programme in the mid-2000s, and that it was "highly unlikely" any former Soviet republic other than Russia pursued chemical weapons after independence.
Mr Skripal remains at Salisbury District Hospital. His daughter was discharged on Monday. Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has said around 250 detectives were working on the Salisbury investigation.
She said they would do everything to establish the facts and "if at all possible" bring those responsible to justice.