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Tuesday 13 March 2018

Deadline set for Russia as PM says it is 'highly likely' behind Salisbury poisoning


Soldiers wearing protective suits and members of the emergency services work at a site in Winterslow, near Salisbury
Image:Soldiers in protective suits and members of emergency services at a site in Winterslow, near Salisbury.
Russia must give a reason for the nerve agent it developed in the 1970s being used on British soil - or face action, the Prime Minister has warned.
Theresa May addressed the House of Commons about the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury on Sunday 4 March.
Mrs May confirmed the pair had been hit with Novichok, which refers to a string of chemical weapons developed in Russia from the 1970s onwards, and said it was "highly likely" Russia was involved.
Officers stand at the cordon in Sainsburys, Salisbury
Image:Police have cordoned off a Sainsbury's car park in Salisbury
She said: "Based on the positive identification of this chemical agent by world-leading experts at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down; our knowledge that Russia has previously produced this agent and would still be capable of doing so; Russia's record of conducting state-sponsored assassinations; and our assessment that Russia views some defectors as legitimate targets for assassinations; the Government has concluded that it is highly likely that Russia was responsible for the act against Sergei and Yulia Skripal."
Mrs May said the substance must either have been used in a state attack, or have got into the hands of an individual, in which case Russia had "lost control" of the agent.
A police officer in a mask enters the Sainsbury's car park in Salisbury
Image:There is still a heavy police presence in Salisbury
She added: "The Foreign Secretary has summoned the Russian Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and asked him to explain which of these two possibilities it is - and therefore to account for how this Russian-produced nerve agent could have been deployed in Salisbury against Mr Skripal and his daughter.
"My Right Honourable Friend has stated to the Ambassador that the Russian Federation must immediately provide full and complete disclosure of the Novichok programme to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
"And he has requested the Russian Government's response by the end of tomorrow."
Theresa May says Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with a 'military-grade nerve agent'
Image:Theresa May says Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with a 'military-grade nerve agent'
The response by Russia will be considered on Wednesday, when Mrs May will give a statement on the range of options available.
Before Mrs May had left the chamber, the Russian Foreign Ministry had called her speech a "circus show" and said it was a provocation.
Since the Commons address, Home Secretary Amber Rudd has confirmed she will chair a Cobra meeting at 11.30am on Tuesday, following a Cabinet meeting.
Officers remove a van from a village six miles away from Salisbury
Image:Officers have removed a van from a village six miles away from Salisbury
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn came under fire from his own benches after his response to Mrs May's address.His Labour colleague Mike Gapes notably declared "all MPs must stand together", as he branded the poisoning "an act of terrorism".
In Salisbury, a Sainsbury's car park close to the bench where the pair were found collapsed on 4 March was cordoned off, with reports from shoppers that a car was to be removed.
Boards were erected to prevent the public seeing into the area.
Six miles away, in Winterslow, a vehicle recovery van was removed by police. It is believed to be one used to remove Mr Skripal's BMW a number of days ago.
Sergei Skripal and Yulia Skripal
Image:Sergei Skripal and Yulia Skripal are still in hospital more than a week after the attack
Tensions are high in Salisbury, where many feel they are not being given enough information quickly enough to understand what is going on. Officials have said there is low concern for public health.
Alexey Navalny, leader of the opposition in Russia, who is banned from standing against Vladimir Putin, tweeted: "What British sanctions in response to the (attempted) murder of Skripalja (if Russia's involvement is proved) would be very effective and supported by public opinion within Russia?
"The answer consists of three surnames: Abramovich, Usmanov, Shuvalov."
The White House responded by calling the attack an "outrage", while Downing Street revealed Mrs May had spoken to Emmanuel Macron on Monday night, and he condemned the attack.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said: "We have full confidence in the UK's investigation and its assessment that Russia was likely responsible for the nerve agent attack that took place in Salisbury last week.
"Those responsible - both those who committed the crime and those who ordered it - must face appropriately serious consequences.
"We stand in solidarity with our allies in the United Kingdom and will continue to co-ordinate closely our responses."
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: "The use of any nerve agent is horrendous and completely unacceptable.
"The UK is a highly valued ally, and this incident is of great concern to NATO."
 
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