German intelligence gave Britain Novichok secrets

DETAILS of the nerve agent used to poison Sergei Skripal and his daughter were shared with Britain more than 20 years ago, leaked intelligence shows.

Germany’s BND intelligence service secretly obtained a sample of Novichok from inside a Russian laboratory in the early Nineties, according to details leaked to two German newspapers.

A Russian scientist working inside the chemical weapons programme offered to obtain the sample in return for a new life for his family in the West, a joint investigation by Zeit and Süddeutsche Zeitung claims.

The deadly nerve agent was secretly carried to the West by the scientist’s wife. Germany had the sample analysed and shared its findings with key allies, including Britain and the United States. It was these findings that made it possible for Britain to identify Novichok as the poison used against Mr Skripal and his daughter, Yulia.

Novichok, which was developed by the Soviet Union, is believed to be one of the deadliest chemical weapons ever produced. Its existence was first made public in 1992 by two Russian scientists. But it now appears that German intelligence was already aware that Russia was still making chemical weapons, despite signing a 1990 accord with the US to stop production.

The BND had recruited a Russian scientist working inside the chemical weapons programme as an agent. It was this man who offered to obtain a sample. He travelled to Germany via Ukraine and Austria. His wife followed shortly afterwards, carrying the Novichok with her.

Germany arranged for the sample to be tested in neutral Sweden rather than at its own laboratories as it did not want to be accused of developing a chemical weapons programme.

The findings were kept secret in order not to damage relations with Russia, which were good at the time.

Instead, the then German chancellor, Helmut Kohl, ordered them to be shared with a select group of Nato allies: Britain, the US, France, Canada and the Netherlands.

The German government refused to comment on the report. “We only comment on intelligence matters to the classified committees of the German parliament,” it said.