Russia to blame, insists No10, as scientists question origins of poison
THERESA MAY last night insisted that Russia was responsible for the poisoning of a spy in Salisbury despite scientists disclosing that they had not been able to determine that the nerve agent used was made in Russia.
Gary Aitkenhead, head of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down, said that while his team had been unable to identify the “precise source” of the Novichok nerve agent that poisoned Sergei Skripal, the Russian double-agent, and his daughter, Yulia, it was “probably only within the capabilities of a state actor”.
The Government last night said that the analysis of the agent was only “one part of the intelligence picture”, highlighting Russian research into delivering nerve agents to assassinate targets and its record of “state-sponsored assassinations”. A spokesman said: “It is our assessment that Russia was responsible for this brazen and reckless act and, as the international community agrees, there is no other plausible explanation.”
In response, Vladimir Putin said last night that “it’s surprising how quickly an anti-russian campaign was unleashed”. The Russian president also claimed that “according to international
experts, such nerve agents can be produced in about 20 countries around the world”.
Mr Putin said Russia would call a session of the executive committee of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons today, where it would present 20 questions about the Salisbury incident. “I hope that this discussion will mark an end to what happened,” he said.
He repeated Russia’s demands that it be allowed access to the case materials of British investigators.
The Prime Minister persuaded Western allies to expel around 130 Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning.
Mrs May was last night battling to maintain the alliance against Russia. Armin Laschet, an ally of Angela Merkel and deputy chairman of the German chancellor’s party, said: “If one forces nearly all Nato countries into solidarity, shouldn’t one have certain evidence?”
Mr Aitkenhead made clear that “it is not our job” to determine precisely where the nerve agent, belonging to the Novichok family, was made but he said the work done at Porton Down formed part of the wider intelligence picture.
“We were able to identify it as Novichok, to identify that it was a militarygrade nerve agent,” he said.
“We have not verified the precise source, but we provided the scientific information to the Government, who have then used a number of other sources to piece together the conclusions that they have come to.”
A Russian Embassy spokesman said statements on the nerve agent being produced in Russia “were a bluff ”.
It came amid claims in court papers in Russia that “eight or nine ampoules” of Novichok had been taken out of a high-security laboratory and “passed through criminal circles”.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “This attack in Salisbury was part of a pattern of increasingly aggressive Russian behaviour, as well as a new and dangerous phase in Russian activity within the continent and beyond.”