‘Poison’ plot hits spy and relative

WORLD

A NERVE agent was used to poison a former Russian spy and his daughter found slumped on a park bench in Salisbury, England, authorities have confirmed.

Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia (right) remain in a critical condition along with a police officer who was first on the scene, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said.

“As you know, these two people remain critically ill in hospital. Sadly, in addition, a police officer who was one of the first to attend the scene and respond to the incident is now also in a serious condition in hospital,” he said.

“Wiltshire Police are, of course, providing every support to his family.”

The stricken police officer is in intensive care.

The officer was among 10 emergency service workers examined at Salisbury District Hospital on Sunday evening. It is understood he was discharged from hospital before his symptoms worsened.

Investigators have not revealed which nerve agent was used on the Skripals.

Scientists have been examining whether the ex-spy, 66, and his daughter, 33, were poisoned, with tests now revealing it is likely a nerve agent was used.

Spooks initially thought the substance used may have been the rat poison Thallium.

Security sources confirmed the substance – which could also be deadly VX or Sarin – is very rare and only a few laboratories in the world can produce it.

A decontamination zone has been set up in Salisbury with officers extending the cordon overnight to the nearby town of Solstice Park.

Counter-terrorism police have been trying to work out who was behind the suspected poisoning and the type of toxic chemical used. Officers are investigating whether a potent toxin was slipped into their drinks at The Mill pub.

Another theory is that an attacker could have sprayed the pair from the street.

Mr Skripal was a high-value MI6 agent while working for Russian military intelligence in the 1990s. After, he was given refuge in the UK in 2010 as part of a spy swap, he continued to work for British agencies.

It was assumed he had been seeing out his days in retirement in Salisbury.

Investigators are looking at lectures he gave to British security services as a possible motive amid claims Mr Skripal had not truly retired.