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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/sep/05/salisbury-novichok-attackers-were-russian-military-intelligence-says-theresa-may
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| Salisbury attackers were Russian military intelligence, says May | Salisbury attackers were Russian military intelligence, says May |
| (2 months later) | |
| Two Russian nationals named and charged over the novichok poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury have been identified as officers from Russia’s military intelligence, Theresa May has said, saying the attack was clearly authorised by Moscow. | Two Russian nationals named and charged over the novichok poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury have been identified as officers from Russia’s military intelligence, Theresa May has said, saying the attack was clearly authorised by Moscow. |
| Updating the Commons after police and prosecutors said the attack appeared to have been carried out by men travelling on authentic Russian passports under the names of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, the prime minister promised a stern response. | Updating the Commons after police and prosecutors said the attack appeared to have been carried out by men travelling on authentic Russian passports under the names of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, the prime minister promised a stern response. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said there was enough evidence to charge the men, who arrived in the UK on an Aeroflot flight from Moscow days before the attack. | The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said there was enough evidence to charge the men, who arrived in the UK on an Aeroflot flight from Moscow days before the attack. |
| May began by outlining the “painstaking and methodical work” police work that identified the suspects, saying 25 detectives examined 11,000 hours of CCTV footage and took 1,400 statements. | May began by outlining the “painstaking and methodical work” police work that identified the suspects, saying 25 detectives examined 11,000 hours of CCTV footage and took 1,400 statements. |
| “We were right to say in March that the Russian state was responsible. And now we have identified the individuals involved we can go even further,” she said. | “We were right to say in March that the Russian state was responsible. And now we have identified the individuals involved we can go even further,” she said. |
| “Mr Speaker, just as the police investigation has enabled the CPS to bring charges against the two suspects, so the security and intelligence agencies have carried their own investigations into the organisation behind this attack. | “Mr Speaker, just as the police investigation has enabled the CPS to bring charges against the two suspects, so the security and intelligence agencies have carried their own investigations into the organisation behind this attack. |
| “Based on this work, I can today tell the house that based on a body of intelligence the government has concluded the two individuals named by the police and CPS are officers from the Russian military intelligence service, also known as the GRU. | “Based on this work, I can today tell the house that based on a body of intelligence the government has concluded the two individuals named by the police and CPS are officers from the Russian military intelligence service, also known as the GRU. |
| Novichok poisonings: what is the GRU and how does it operate? | |
| “The GRU is a highly disciplined organisation with a well established chain of command. So this was not a rogue operation. It was almost certainly also approved outside the GRU at a senior level of the Russian state.” | “The GRU is a highly disciplined organisation with a well established chain of command. So this was not a rogue operation. It was almost certainly also approved outside the GRU at a senior level of the Russian state.” |
| This was “part of a wider pattern of Russian behaviour that persistently seeks to undermine our security and that of our allies around the world”, May said, promising further action to combat the GRU, and against Russia generally. | This was “part of a wider pattern of Russian behaviour that persistently seeks to undermine our security and that of our allies around the world”, May said, promising further action to combat the GRU, and against Russia generally. |
| Russia, May said, had sought to “hide the truth by pushing out a deluge of disinformation”, which only pointed further to its involvement. | Russia, May said, had sought to “hide the truth by pushing out a deluge of disinformation”, which only pointed further to its involvement. |
| Saying there was no point seeking the suspects’ extradition directly, May said: “But should either of these individuals ever again travel outside Russia, we will take every possible step to detain them, to extradite them and to bring them to face justice here in the United Kingdom.” | Saying there was no point seeking the suspects’ extradition directly, May said: “But should either of these individuals ever again travel outside Russia, we will take every possible step to detain them, to extradite them and to bring them to face justice here in the United Kingdom.” |
| The UK and its allies would, the prime minister said, “deploy the full range of tools from across our national security apparatus in order to counter the threat posed by the GRU”. | The UK and its allies would, the prime minister said, “deploy the full range of tools from across our national security apparatus in order to counter the threat posed by the GRU”. |
| Responding, Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, praised the investigation and said his party would back “any further reasonable action” against Russia or the GRU. | Responding, Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, praised the investigation and said his party would back “any further reasonable action” against Russia or the GRU. |
| Corbyn said: “We utterly condemn the appalling attacks. We commend the police and security services for their diligence in investigating this appalling crime. And we will support any reasonable action to being those responsible to justice, and to take further action against Russia for its failure to cooperate with this investigation.” | Corbyn said: “We utterly condemn the appalling attacks. We commend the police and security services for their diligence in investigating this appalling crime. And we will support any reasonable action to being those responsible to justice, and to take further action against Russia for its failure to cooperate with this investigation.” |
| Another early speaker was Boris Johnson, who was foreign secretary when the poisoning took place. He condemned what he said was the “somewhat weasely language of the leader of the opposition” in not going sufficiently far to condemn Russia directly for the attack. | Another early speaker was Boris Johnson, who was foreign secretary when the poisoning took place. He condemned what he said was the “somewhat weasely language of the leader of the opposition” in not going sufficiently far to condemn Russia directly for the attack. |
| May echoed the sentiment when answering Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster leader, who said it was clear the Salisbury incident involved “an unlawful use of force by the Russian state”. | May echoed the sentiment when answering Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster leader, who said it was clear the Salisbury incident involved “an unlawful use of force by the Russian state”. |
| The prime minister said: “Can I think him for his clear condemnation of the Russian state. Can I say, I would only wish that that clear condemnation would be possible for the leaders of all parties in this house.” | The prime minister said: “Can I think him for his clear condemnation of the Russian state. Can I say, I would only wish that that clear condemnation would be possible for the leaders of all parties in this house.” |
| The CPS said it had charged the two men with conspiracy to murder the Skripals and DS Nick Bailey, who fell ill after going to the Skripal home after the Russian pair were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury. | The CPS said it had charged the two men with conspiracy to murder the Skripals and DS Nick Bailey, who fell ill after going to the Skripal home after the Russian pair were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury. |
| The two Russian suspects are also charged with the use and possession of novichok, contrary to the Chemical Weapons Act. They are also charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Yulia Skripal and DS Bailey. | The two Russian suspects are also charged with the use and possession of novichok, contrary to the Chemical Weapons Act. They are also charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Yulia Skripal and DS Bailey. |
| They have not been charged with the later poisoning that killed Dawn Sturgess and left Charlie Rowley seriously ill, after they became unwell on 30 June at an address in Amesbury, Wiltshire. | They have not been charged with the later poisoning that killed Dawn Sturgess and left Charlie Rowley seriously ill, after they became unwell on 30 June at an address in Amesbury, Wiltshire. |
| Novichok poisonings | Novichok poisonings |
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| UK security and counter-terrorism | UK security and counter-terrorism |
| Counter-terrorism policy | Counter-terrorism policy |
| Sergei Skripal | Sergei Skripal |
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