SPY’S DOOR IS GROUND ZERO Girlfriend’s bid to stay

THE chemical used to poison MI6 agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter was smeared on his door handle, police now suspect.

Forensic teams pored over the door at the critically ill Russians’ detached home in Salisbury, Wilts this week.

Investigators believe the white double-glazed uPVC entrance was “ground zero” – the point of attack in a murder attempt on the former Russian military intelligence officer and his daughter Yulia.

Senior Whitehall staff have seen evidence which shows Russians have researched administering poisons via door handles.

Earlier reports that the nerve agent novichok was placed in Mr Skripal’s car ventilation system or was unwittingly brought back from Moscow in a suitcase by Yulia, 33, have been dismissed.

Eaten

The Sunday People can also reveal that three young boys may have been at risk of poisoning after Mr Skripal, 66, handed bread to them to feed ducks near the Avon playground in the centre of the city.

The park is near the Maltings shopping centre where the Russian and his daughter were found collapsed on a bench three weeks ago.

One of the children is said to have eaten some of the bread.

Investigators identified them using CCTV cameras at the park.

Tests have now been conducted and the boys have been discharged.

Local Labour councillor Ricky Rogers was shocked to learn that children were potentially exposed.

He said: “It’s a well-used park – that’s the place you go to feed the ducks in Salisbury. From 10am to 5pm there are always children there.”

Last night Dr Jenny Harries, deputy medical director at Public Health England said: “Assessing people who might have come into contact with the chemical or Mr Skripal and his daughter has been taking place. We have contacted a number of people who have had thorough medical checks and all of them are well.

Testing

“We would like to emphasise that the risk to the general public is low.”

A source added: “These children were taken in for testing, and they were among a series of people who this happened to as part of their routine follow-up.”

The area is still cordoned off as investigators in hazardous material suits continue to comb the area.

On Friday a park bench was removed so it could be kept as a potential crime exhibit.

On Thursday forensics teams at Mr Skripal’s home were spotted with a checklist that outlined key areas to be swabbed for evidence.

They included door handles and other places Mr Skripal could have unwittingly touched.

More than 250 counter-terror officers are working round the clock as the investigation into the attempted murders continues.

Last night the Kremlin denied a claim that Mr Skripal, who came to Britain in 2010 in a spy swap, wrote to President Putin begging for a pardon and asking to return to Russia. THE girlfriend of murdered Russian businessman Nikolai Glushkov has applied for asylum in the UK.

The Kremlin critic’s body was found at his home in New Malden, South London, on March 12.

His girlfriend has asked to remain in Britain under rules that allow bereaved partners to stay.

Mr Glushkov , 68, was granted asylum after being accused of fraud while running the Russian state airline Aeroflot.