The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Nerve agent attack started at Skripals’ front door, say police
Specialists find high concentration of Novichok at house in Salisbury
Detectives investigating the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal say they believe they first came into contact with the nerve agent Novichok at their home.
Specialists have also identified the highest concentration of the nerve agent as being on the Skripals’ front door, the Metropolitan Police said.
Traces of the nerve agent have been found at some of the other scenes detectives have been working at over the past few weeks, but at lower concentrations to that found at the home address.
Wiltshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills said: “The Wiltshire Police support to the Counter Terrorism Policing Network investigation remains ongoing and is likely to do so for a number of months.
“I would like to reiterate our thanks to the people of Salisbury for their patience and understanding.
“We are very aware of the impact the closure of these scenes has had on the local community and businesses and we are very grateful for the support and cooperation that has been and continues to be, shown while the police investigation and recovery process takes place.”
Meanwhile, Russia has suggested UK intelligence officers may have been involved in the poisoning.
The Kremlin allegation came as Moscow faced increasing global isolation, with at least 26 countries expelling a total of more than 130 suspected spies in response to Russia’s apparent use of a nerve agent on British streets.
However, the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) said the onus was now on London to prove its intelligence agencies were not involved.
In a statement, the MFA accused London of launching “a large-scale political and media campaign against Russia”, while refusing its requests to share samples of the toxic agent.
“We see a deliberate and purposeful escalation of confrontation and a demonstration of military force on Russia’s border,” said the statement.
Britain insists there is no plausible alternative explanation for the March 4 Novichok attack and has dismissed a series of suggestions emanating from Moscow as nonsense.