Chief of ‘Skripal agency’ dies

THE detective poisoned probing the Salisbury novichok attack has told how his life has been turned upside down – as his boss said the nerve agent could have killed thousands.

Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey was unwittingly contaminated as he and a colleague searched the home of Sergei Skripal after the former Russian spy and daughter Yulia were found critically ill in the city.

Dad-of-two Nick fell ill soon after but it was not linked to novichok until he was rushed to hospital two days later – after which he realised he might have contaminated his family home, where they can now never return. He said: “Not only did we lose the house, we lost all of our possessions, including everything the kids owned, the cars, everything.”

Now he may face long-term health issues, but he said: “I can’t control that. It’s happened now and we just have to take each day as it comes.

Novichok is suspected to have been smeared on Mr Skripal’s front door handle by secret agents Colonel Anatoliy Chepiga and Alexander Mishkin of Russia’s feared GRU.

The poison was in a perfume bottle and in July it killed Dawn Sturgess, 45, who put it on her wrists after partner Charlie Rowley, 44, found it in a bin.

Dep Asst Commissioner Dean Haydon, who led the probe into the March attack, called it “completely reckless”. Asked how many more people it could have killed, Mr Haydon said: “Possibly into the thousands. The amount in the bottle and the way it was applied was completely reckless.”

DS Bailey and a colleague wore forensic suits to search Mr Skripal’s home, but two days later he was rushed to hospital.

He said: “Everything was juddering, I was very unsteady on my feet. My whole body was dripping with sweat.”

He added: “It’s such an outrageous way of doing something. Any number of people could have been affected.” DS NICK BAILEY TELLS OF NOVICHOK ORDEAL

We lost the house, the cars, and all of our possessions

THE boss of the Russian spy agency accused of the Salisbury attack on the Skripals has died.

The Kremlin said General Colonel Igor Korobov died on Wednesday of a “serious illness”.

The 63-year-old, left, led the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, known as the GRU, since 2016.

The statement called Korobov “a true son of Russia” and “a patriot of the Fatherland” who “will remain in our hearts”.