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Skripal case: Russian 'spies' targeted Swiss chemical weapons lab | Skripal case: Russian 'spies' targeted Swiss chemical weapons lab |
(35 minutes later) | |
Two Russian men were arrested earlier this year on suspicion of spying on a Swiss laboratory investigating the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a newspaper investigation has claimed. | Two Russian men were arrested earlier this year on suspicion of spying on a Swiss laboratory investigating the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a newspaper investigation has claimed. |
Swiss publication Tages Anzeiger and Dutch paper NRC said they were arrested in the Netherlands earlier this year. | Swiss publication Tages Anzeiger and Dutch paper NRC said they were arrested in the Netherlands earlier this year. |
The Swiss lab analysed samples from the poisoning of the former Russian double agent in the UK. | The Swiss lab analysed samples from the poisoning of the former Russian double agent in the UK. |
It has also dealt with suspected chemical weapons from the war in Syria. | It has also dealt with suspected chemical weapons from the war in Syria. |
The two men were expelled from The Netherlands shortly after their arrest, which had not been reported until now. | |
A spokeswoman for Swiss intelligence told the BBC that the agency had been actively involved in "the case of the Russian spies", without mentioning the laboratory at Spiez, near Bern. | A spokeswoman for Swiss intelligence told the BBC that the agency had been actively involved in "the case of the Russian spies", without mentioning the laboratory at Spiez, near Bern. |
But Tages Anzeiger said the Swiss intelligence agency had confirmed the findings of its joint investigation with NRC. | But Tages Anzeiger said the Swiss intelligence agency had confirmed the findings of its joint investigation with NRC. |
The report says the two men had equipment that could have been used to break into the laboratory's computer systems, and also alleged that they worked for Russian intelligence. | The report says the two men had equipment that could have been used to break into the laboratory's computer systems, and also alleged that they worked for Russian intelligence. |
Britain has said that two Russian intelligence officers were behind the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in March. | Britain has said that two Russian intelligence officers were behind the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in March. |
NRC said the two alleged spies targeting the Swiss lab were not the same men accused of the poisoning. | NRC said the two alleged spies targeting the Swiss lab were not the same men accused of the poisoning. |
It is not clear exactly when the arrests were made. But British intelligence are said to have been involved in the intelligence operation, suggesting it occurred after the Salisbury poisonings. | It is not clear exactly when the arrests were made. But British intelligence are said to have been involved in the intelligence operation, suggesting it occurred after the Salisbury poisonings. |
Isabelle Graber, head of communications at the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) said the agency had "participated actively in this operation together with its Dutch and British partners". | Isabelle Graber, head of communications at the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) said the agency had "participated actively in this operation together with its Dutch and British partners". |
The intended target of the alleged espionage is a designated lab for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). | The intended target of the alleged espionage is a designated lab for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). |
In addition to research on dangerous infections, it deals with biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons research. | In addition to research on dangerous infections, it deals with biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons research. |
In that capacity, it has examined samples from the Syrian conflict, where the Damascus government - Russia's ally - has been accused of using chemical weapons against civilians. | In that capacity, it has examined samples from the Syrian conflict, where the Damascus government - Russia's ally - has been accused of using chemical weapons against civilians. |