REVEALS SECRET OF SLEEPER SPIES
Skripal’s niece ‘fibbed on her visa application to visit UK’ Crisis hits chemical warfare HQ
ferries rather than more heavilyscrutinised flights. One would have stayed in Moscow to follow Yulia, 33, to Heathrow as she landed at 2.40pm on March 3.
Once the spy was sure Yulia was under surveillance by the SOG team already in position here, the spook would have hopped on a flight home.
By 4.15 the following afternoon Sergei and Yulia were slumped on a bench near Salisbury’s Zizzi restaurant having been poisoned. The sleeper agent would provide safe houses, buy or rent cars and motorcycles with cash – and brief the SOG for the attack on Sergei, 66, and Yulia. He – or she – would have already staked out where the black op was to be carried out and planned the hit squad’s route to avoid
Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Spot where the Skripals collapsed
CCTV cameras. The sleeper would also be responsible for checking whether there was any surveillance on Sergei Skripal that might jeopardise the mission.
Karpichkov, a former major in the
Viktoria claimed relatives had food poisoning POISONED Sergei Skripal’s niece Viktoria has been denied a visa to come to the UK from Russia because her application did not comply with immigration rules.
A source claimed Viktoria had fibbed on her application to travel to the UK, adding: “There were clear inconsistencies with what she said in news reports this week.
“On top of this Yulia Skripal has made it clear she does not want the Russians to visit her, MORALE at the Government’s Porton Down chemical warfare HQ – at the centre of the Skripal nerve agent probe – is at rock bottom following spending cuts and a staff exodus.
Labour MP Stephanie Peacock revealed findings from a staff survey at DSTL which shows only 26 per cent back chiefs at the Wiltshire facility. She said: “Scientists protecting people from chemical and biological warfare and terrorism deserve better.”
KGB and its FSB successor, was himself given a licence to kill with poison before he defected to Britain.
He told us: “I was told that just one drop or a pinch of powder of the substance I would be supplied with was more than enough to liquidate anyone. I had to wear two pairs of gloves, one made of rubber, and take care to hold my breath.
“All that’s then necessary is to spread it on an item of everyday use, door handles, personal bag locks, rucksacks, diplomat-cases, car door handles, car fuel hatch and so on.
“I could also work it over their telephone handset, either in their office or their private one.”
In the Skripals’ case, his front door or her cousin.” Viktoria had claimed her relatives had food poisoning because they “ate something wrong”.
After learning her visa application had been refused, Viktoria Skripal said: “I was sure this would happen. I knew I would not be given one.”
News of Mr Skripal’s improving condition raises the prospect that he will be able to give police vital clues about the poisoning. the very nearest future.”
handle was chosen to deliver the poison on March 4.
Twenty-nine countries have now expelled 145 Russian envoys in solidarity with the UK over the attack.
Double agent Sergei was jailed by Russia for spying for Britain but released in a 2010 spy swap.
Miraculously, both he and Yulia are now recovering after spending weeks in intensive care.
Karpichkov said that once the nerve agent, most likely Novichok A-234, had been successfully planted the hit squad would have disappeared the same way as it had come.
But the sleeper would have stayed behind... ready for the next mission.
nigel.nelson@sundaymirror.co.uk
KGB gave me licence to kill with one pinch of powder... BORIS KARPICHKOV ON RUSSIAN DEATH SQUADS