WEAPONS EXPERTS PROBE POISONED SPY SCENE
CHEMICAL weapons experts yesterday began working at the scenes where Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter may have been poisoned.
Inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons started work at the Mill pub in Salisbury, Wilts, where Mr Skripal, 66, and Yulia, 33, visited before they were found on a bench.
The bench at The Maltings shopping precinct and the nearby Zizzi will also be closely examined to discover how the nerve agent Novichok was administered.
Mr Skripal and Yulia are said to still be in a “critical but stable condition” in intensive care while Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, who was also injured by the nerve agent, is no longer critical.
Wiltshire Police would not confirm when DS Bailey would be returning to his home in Fordingbridge, Hants.
A police cordon at a Salisbury cemetery where Mr Skripal’s late wife and son are buried was yesterday reduced by police.
Wiltshire Council also came to the aid of the retail community, which has struggled as a result of the attempted assassination, by announcing free parking in the city.
Parking will be free from Saturday until further notice to help local businesses recover from the impact the investigation into the incident has had.
John Glen, Conservative MP for Salisbury, said: “I’m very pleased with the latest announcement as it shows that the authorities are listening to concerns and taking concrete steps to boost the local economy.”
Wiltshire Council leader Jane Scott said: “We know that people are rightly concerned about Salisbury, and it is important that we encourage residents and visitors to enjoy our beautiful and historic city, and to promote that it is very much business as usual.
“We will be doing everything we can to support Salisbury through this extraordinary situation.”