No hiding grim truth

The McMafia-style “hit” which left a Russian double agent and his daughter critically ill in a British hospital shows reality is grimmer than any TV drama.

MI6 self-evidently failed to protect Sergi Skripal and his family after they settled in Britain following an exchange of spies. Not to mention innocent city centre shoppers.

The authorities may urge people not to jump to conclusions but after recent cases of dissident Russians assassinated on our soil it is difficult not to suspect foul play.

Nobody was brought to justice for the polonium poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko – an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin – in London. If the authorities fail to bring a suspect to court in this case, it will be frightening evidence of the Kremlin’s reach.

No sovereign country can ignore what looks like executions on its territory.

Nations must respect other nations or the world descends into anarchy.