May in unity call at scene of ‘brazen’ spy attack
The Prime Minister visited Salisbury yesterday after the nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy and his daughter. Theresa May was briefed by public health experts, as the pair remain critically ill in hospital.
Theresa May has called for international unity in response to the Salisbury nerve agent attack as she visited the scene and spoke to a stricken officer who was one of the first to help a former Russian spy and his daughter.
Leaders of Britain, the US, Germany and France issued a joint statement blaming Russia for the poisoning, saying it was “an assault on UK sovereignty” and a breach of international law that “threatens the security of us all”.
Russia confirmed that it would expel British diplomats in the coming days in retaliation for the UK expelling 23 intelligence agents posing as Russian diplomats.
Touring the scene of the attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, Mrs May said it “could have happened anywhere”.
“What is important in the international arena... is that allies are standing alongside us and saying this is part of a pattern of activity that we have seen from Russia in their interference, their disruption that they have perpetrated across a number of countries in Europe,” the Prime Minister said.
“This happened in the UK but it could have happened anywhere, and we take a united stance against it.”
During her visit to Salisbury, the Prime Minister thanked police officers and paramedics involved in the initial response to the incident, and visited Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey in hospital, where he is being treated for exposure to the nerve agent.
Det Sgt Bailey’s car was removed by soldiers in protective suits as the recovery and clean-up operation as part of the investigation turned its focus to his home in Alderholt, some 11 miles from Salisbury.
In a joint statement, Mrs May, US President Donald Trump, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Angela Merkel said they “abhor” the poison attack and share the assessment there was “no plausible alternative explanation” other than Russia being responsible.
Mr Trump told reporters at the White House: “It certainly looks like the Russians were behind it,” adding: “We are taking it very seriously.”
Nato states were briefed by UK national security adviser Sir Mark Sedwill at a meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Brussels.
Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said the attack took place “against the backdrop of a reckless pattern of Russian behaviour” including its interference in Georgia and Ukraine, and attempts to subvert democratic elections.
“We do not want a new Cold War. And we do not want to be dragged into a new arms race... But let there be no doubt. Nato will defend all allies against any threat.”
Russian foreign ministers ergeiLavrov warned that Moscow will exp el British diplomats“soon” after Mrs May announced the biggest expulsion of Russian embassy staff since the Cold War.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd chaired a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergencies committee in London to discuss the latest situation.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove led a cross-governmental ministerial recovery group looking at support which will go to the people and city of Salisbury in the aftermath of the incident.
Boris Johnson said the evidence against Moscow was “overwhelming”.
The Foreign Secretary said the UK’S response means Russia’s intelligence capabilities in the country had been “basically eviscerated” for decades.
He confirmed the UK will submit a sample of the nerve agent to the Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for it to carry out its own tests.
In the bluntest expression of the UK’S response, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said Russia “should go away and should shut up”.
“It is absolutely atrocious and outrageous what Russia did,” he said. “We have responded to that. Frankly, Russia should go away and should shut up.”