Poisoned spy’s girl awake and talking
A day after family said she only had ‘1% chance’...
THE daughter of the former Russian spy poisoned in a nerve agent attack is awake and talking, it emerged last night.
Yulia Skripal, 33, is ‘improving rapidly’ and may soon be able to tell police what happened in the minutes before she collapsed.
Her remarkable recovery comes a day after relatives said she had only a 1 per cent chance of survival.
The 33-year- old was exposed to the lethal Novichok toxin as she visited her father Sergei in Salisbury four weeks ago.
Former double agent Mr Skripal, 66, continues to fight for his life in hospital. Yesterday separate sources told the BBC that Yulia was conscious and talking.
Dr Christine Blanshard, Salisbury District Hospital’s medical director, added: ‘I’m pleased to be able to report an improvement in the condition of Yulia Skripal. She has responded well to treatment but continues to receive expert clinical care 24 hours a day.’
More than 250 counter-terror officers are involved in the biggest investigation since the attacks of July 7, 2005. They are working to uncover exactly how the Skripals came into contact with the ‘weapons grade’ nerve agent.
The highest concentration of the chemical was found on Mr Skripal’s PVC front door – which is decorated with a ‘lucky’ horseshoe. It has led investigators to examine a ‘poison postman’ theory in which a would-be assassin visited the home to deliver the deadly agent. If traces lingered on the handle, it could explain how Det Sgt Nick Bailey was also exposed to the toxin.
The policeman, who was discharged from hospital last week, is believed to be among the first on the scene after the Skripals were found collapsed on a bench in Salisbury. He then travelled to the former spy’s home on the outskirts of the city.
Forensic experts also discovered traces of the toxin at a pub and restaurant the pair had visited. Their maroon BMW was found to be so heavily contaminated that vehicles used to recover it were also seized. Yesterday, officers put a cordon around a children’s play area near Mr Skripal’s home, insisting it was a ‘precautionary measure’.
They also removed the front door as parts of the house were boarded up. Scotland Yard has warned its probe will focus on the property, which was purchased with cash shortly after he settled in Britain.
One senior officer said painstaking searches could take months.
Police are examining more than 5,000 hours of CCTV footage and 1,350 items that have been seized, while 500 witnesses have been identified.
Britain has accused Russia of being behind the poisoning – allegations fiercely denied by the Kremlin. In turn, Russia has suggested that UK intelligence officers may have been involved in the poisoning. As Moscow faces increasing global isolation, at least 26 countries have expelled suspected spies.