Skripals given small amount of liquid form nerve agent

THE nerve agent used to attack former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter was delivered in a “liquid form”, it has been revealed.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said only a “very small amount” of deadly Novichok was used against Mr Skripal, 66, and 33-year-old Yulia.

The highest concentration was found at Mr Skripal’s home on the outskirts of Salisbury, with eight other areas across the city potentially contaminated.

A spokesman for Defra said yesterday: “In this instance, direct contact is required for a person to be poisoned. Only a small proportion of the material is transferred in each contact and the substance is diluted in each secondary or tertiary contact.

“The class of nerve agent does not produce significant vapour or gas and can only be moved between sites by direct transfer from a contaminated person or by moving a contaminated item.”

Asked what form the nerve agent was in, the Defra spokesman said: “It’s in a liquid form.”

It comes as the first of 10 sites cordoned off across the city was reopened yesterday. Tests confirmed the area of London Road cemetery, which contains the remains of Mr Skripal’s dead wife and son, was not contaminated.

Work is set to begin to decontaminate the nine other locations experts know or believe are contaminated.

A multimillion-pound operation, involving around 190 specialist military personnel, is expected to start in the coming days, with the process lasting months.

It will first focus on two areas near Bourne Hill police station and two ambulance stations, before work starts on The Maltings area, where the Skripals were found, Zizzi restaurant, a car compound and the home of poisoned police officer Nick Bailey. The Mill pub and Mr Skripal’s home, which are still part of the police investigation, will be the last to be cleaned.