Two Russian 'agents' named as suspects behind Novichok poisoning in Salisbury
Culled from Metro
Two Russian military officers have been accused of being behind the Salisbury Novichok attacks.
The Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service say there is sufficient evidence to charge Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov with offences including conspiracy to murder.
Those offences relate to the case of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia who were poisoned in the Wiltshire town in March.
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Officers say they have no evidence that they re-entered the UK after that date.
Public Heath England have said they are confident there is no risk to members of the public who were on the same flights or trains as the pair.
Tests were carried out in the hotel room and came back with readings well below levels that could cause concern for health.
The Met added that anyone likely to become ill, would have experienced symptoms within the first 12 hours of exposure.
Detectives are still trying to fully work out the circumstances in which Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley were contaminated.
Emergency vehicles used in the investigation were sent to landfill, it emerged earlier this week.
After his release from hospital, Mr Sturgess told police he found a box he thought contained perfume in a charity bin on Wednesday, 27 June.
Russian National Alexander Petrov at Gatwick airport at on March 2 2018. (Picture: PA)
Inside the box was a bottle and applicator. He tried to put the two parts together at his home address on Saturday, 30 June, and in doing so got some of the contents on himself.
He said Dawn had applied some of the substance to her wrists before feeling unwell.
Tests at the DSTL at Porton Down revealed a significant amount of Novichok in the bottle.
The box was labelled Nina Ricci Premier Jour, which has since been proved to be a fake.
Russian National Ruslan Boshirov at Gatwick airport on March 2 2018 (Picture: PA)
Mr Basu, who is the National Lead for Counter Terrorism Policing, said it the release of the names of the wanted men was a ‘significant moment’ in a ‘complex and intensive investigation.’
‘This has been a highly complex investigation for UK policing, which would have been impossible without the great staff and abilities of the UK Intelligence Community and the support of the Government.
‘My thoughts remain with Dawn Sturgess’s family as they come to terms with their loss, the other victims who fell seriously ill after being exposed to a Novichok nerve agent and the people of Salisbury who have shown tremendous resilience throughout.’
‘We have now linked the attack on the Skripals and the events in Amesbury which affected Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley. It now forms one investigation.
‘We do not believe Dawn and Charlie were deliberately targeted, but became victims as a result of the recklessness in which such a toxic nerve agent was disposed of.
‘We know that Novichok was applied to the Skripals’ front door in an area that is accessible to the public, which also endangered the lives of members of the public and emergency service responders.’
Mr Basu called for help from the public to find Petrov and Boshirov, who were both travelling on Russian passports.
If you recognise them, know who they are or saw them please contact police in confidence on 0800 789 321 or email the investigation team Salisbury2018@met.police.uk
Sergei Skripal and Yulia Skripal were poisoned at their home in March (Picture: Rex)
Charlie Rowley recalled a perfume bottle filled with ‘oily’ Novichok (Picture: ITVK IO 6CX)\
Dawn Sturgess died after being poisoned in July (Picture: PA)
My view: It's unbelievable the extent to which some people will go to destroy human beings like them. Scientists should stop inventing chemicals that'll kill people, if they didn't create the deadly poison, Dawn Sturgess would be alive today.