Tears as expelled embassy spies leave UK
THE 23 Russian spies kicked out by Theresa May after the Salisbury nerve agent attack left Britain yesterday.
Minibuses and cars ferried the diplomats and their families from Russia’s London embassy after removal vans arrived early yesterday.
The Prime Minister said expelling the diplomats, described as “undeclared intelligence officers”, would hurt Moscow’s intelligencegathering ability in Britain.
It comes after the Kremlin was blamed for poisoning former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
Tearful crowds waved goodbye to the 80-strong group outside the Russian embassy complex in Kensington, following a reception hosted by ambassador Alexander Yakovenko on Friday. He tweeted: “Today we bid farewell to our colleagues heading home after the hostile move of the UK Government, and wish them all the best in their careers.”
They later boarded a Moscowbound plane at Stansted Airport, which took off just after 4pm.
Mr Skripal, 66, and Yulia, 33, remain critically ill following the assassination attempt on March 4. Sergeant Nick Bailey, the police officer who rushed to their aid, is in a serious, but stable condition.
Police have taken 400 statements and are trying to establish the Skripals’ movements, but counterterrorism chief, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, warned: “This is going to be frustrating for people. It is going to take weeks, possibly months.”
Inspectors from the world watchdog the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons are examining the nerve agent.