Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)

RUSSIAN SPY ATTACK: PREVIOUS VICTIM REVEALS HORROR

Chapman blasts ‘traitor’ Skripal as he spends 7th day in a coma

- BY PATRICK HILL AND ALAN SELBY

POISONED Sergei Skripal was yesterday branded a “traitor” by fellow Russian spy Anna Chapman.

Chapman – who was traded for Skripal when she was unmasked by the FBI in 2010 – ranted on Instagram as he and his daughter spent a seventh day in a coma.

She wrote: “As always Russia is guilty by default... despite the fact that traitor Skripal was pardoned by the President and released.

“When investigat­ing any murder, the first issue is the motive of the crime. Who benefits from it? In any case, Russia is definitely not interested in such scandal. Does the West need proof to blame Russia?”

Chapman, 36, hit out as

Skripal, 66, and daughter

Yulia, 33, remained in a critical condition in

Salisbury District Hospital.

Detective Sergeant

Nick Bailey, who rushed to their aid, was in a serious but stable condition.

The job of treating the trio is so dangerous that only a small number of medics are allowed to take part.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who chaired a Cobra meeting yesterday to discuss the poisoning, said police had identified more than 200 witnesses and were looking at 240 pieces of evidence.

Chemical warfare teams were seen testing for nerve agents at the graves of Skripal’s wife and son. One theory is that the poison was in the flowers he and his daughter left at the grave.

Soldiers entered Zizzi restaurant where the pair dined shortly before collapsing in a shopping centre. Military experts were part of a convoy of 180 specialist­s drafted in.

The Russian double agent and his daughter – plus his late wife Liudmila and son Alexander – moved to Salisbury after he was given refuge in the UK.

 ??  ?? CEMETERY CLUES Chemical warfare teams at work
CEMETERY CLUES Chemical warfare teams at work
 ??  ?? RANT Anna Chapman
RANT Anna Chapman

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom