City ‘violated’ by poisoning of spy

THE poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in Salisbury was an ‘act of violation’, the city’s bishop says.

Nicholas Holtam said that there had been ‘anxiety, puzzlement and anger’ in the community after Sergei and Yulia Skripal were attacked with a nerve agent.

‘The last four weeks have been very strange in Salisbury,’ he added in his Easter sermon. ‘Two people were attacked, but Salisbury has been violated.’

Bishop Holtam praised the ‘brilliant’ emergency services and the hospital for their response to the incident.

‘People in this community are resilient,’ he added. ‘After an act of violation we need to rebuild relationships and confidence in one another and the people and place we love.’

The UK has expelled 23 Russian diplomats over the poisoning, with its allies also calling on embassy staff to leave. The Russian embassy said it ‘insists’ on the right to see Miss Skripal after it emerged she was improving. Her father remains in a critical condition.