Former Russian spy critically ill in Britain after exposure to unidentified substance

[webfact]

Former Russian spy critically ill in Britain after exposure to unidentified substance

By Guy Faulconbridge and Alistair Smout

 

Police officers stand guard beside a cordoned-off area, after former Russian military intelligence officer Sergei Skripal, who was convicted in 2006 of spying for Britain, became critically ill after exposure to an unidentified substance, in Salisbury, southern England, March 5, 2018. REUTERS/Toby Melville

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, who was convicted by Russia of betraying agents to British intelligence, was critically ill on Monday after exposure to an unidentified substance in Britain, two sources close to the investigation told Reuters.

 

British police said two people, a 66-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman, had been found unconscious on a bench in a shopping centre on Sunday in the southern English city of Salisbury after exposure to the unknown substance.

 

Both are critically ill in intensive care. Police declared a major incident.

 

Skripal, once a colonel in Russia's GRU military intelligence service, was convicted in Russia of treason in 2006 but exchanged as part of a Cold War-style spy swap in 2010 on the tarmac of Vienna airport. Skripal is 66 years old.

 

British police did not release the names of those who were being treated but two sources close to the investigation told Reuters that the critically ill man was Skripal. It was unclear what the substance was, they said.

 

"This has not been declared as a counter-terrorism incident and we would urge people not to speculate," Wiltshire police's Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Craig Holden told reporters.

 

"However, I must emphasise that we retain an open mind, and that we continue to review this position."

 

Relations between Britain and Russia have been strained since the murder of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive polonium-210 in London in 2006, a killing which a British inquiry said was probably approved by President Vladimir Putin.

 

The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any involvement in the killing.

 

Litvinenko, 43, an outspoken critic of Putin who fled Russia for Britain six years to the day before he was poisoned, died after drinking green tea laced with the rare and very potent radioactive isotope at London’s Millennium Hotel.

 

It took some time for British doctors to discern the cause of Litvinenko's illness.

 

SPY SWAP

 

Skripal, who was arrested in 2004 by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of betraying dozens of Russian agents to British intelligence, was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2006.

 

But he was later pardoned in 2010 by then-President Dmitry Medvedev as part of a spy swap to bring 10 Russian agents held in the United States back to Moscow.

 

The swap, one of the biggest since the Cold War ended in 1991, took place on the tarmac of Vienna airport where a Russian and a U.S. jet parked side by side before the agents were exchanged.

 

One of the Russian spies exchanged for Skripal was Anna Chapman, who was greeted as a hero by the Kremlin. She was one of 10 spies who tried to blend in to American society in an apparent bid to get close to power brokers and learn secrets. They were arrested by the FBI in 2010.

 

Putin, himself a former KGB officer, sang patriotic songs with the returned spies.

 

Since finding refuge in Britain, Skripal kept largely out of the spotlight until he was seen making strange movements on a bench in Wiltshire on Sunday.

 

"On the bench there was a couple, an older guy and a younger girl. She was sort of leant-in on him, it looked like she'd passed out maybe. He was doing some strange hand movements, looking up to the sky," witness Freya Church told the BBC.

 

"They looked so out of it that I thought even if I did step in I wasn't sure how I could help, so I just left them. But it looked like they'd been taking something quite strong."

 

(Reporting by Alistair Smout, William Schomberg and Andy Bruce in London and Mark Hosenball in Washington; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-06

 

[roo860]

Should have checked the area for empty cans of Special Brew.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[ostyan]

Being a spy is not the most secure profession.

[mamypoko]

I hope Putin will not kill you...

(I'm sorry - I couldn't resist)

 

[dabhand]

Oh, those Russians.

[mtls2005]

Evidently no open windows nearby?

[zaphod reborn]

This is why Trump eats at McDonalds.  He knows the ways of Putin's Russian mafia, and their preference for poison.

[ilostmypassword]

2 minutes ago, zaphod reborn said:

This is why Trump eats at McDonalds.  He knows the ways of Putin's Russian mafia, and their preference for poison.

I think Trump has already drunk the Kool-aid.

[janclaes47]

I didn't read anything in the OP that suggested attempted murder, and what Trump has to do with this goes completely over my head.

[ilostmypassword]

8 minutes ago, janclaes47 said:

I didn't read anything in the OP that suggested attempted murder, and what Trump has to do with this goes completely over my head.

In that case, what was this doing in the article?

"Relations between Britain and Russia have been strained since the murder of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive polonium-210 in London in 2006, a killing which a British inquiry said was probably approved by President Vladimir Putin.

 

The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any involvement in the killing.

 

Litvinenko, 43, an outspoken critic of Putin who fled Russia for Britain six years to the day before he was poisoned, died after drinking green tea laced with the rare and very potent radioactive isotope at London’s Millennium Hotel.

 

It took some time for British doctors to discern the cause of Litvinenko's illness."

[janclaes47]

23 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

In that case, what was this doing in the article?

"Relations between Britain and Russia have been strained since the murder of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive polonium-210 in London in 2006, a killing which a British inquiry said was probably approved by President Vladimir Putin.

 

The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any involvement in the killing.

 

Litvinenko, 43, an outspoken critic of Putin who fled Russia for Britain six years to the day before he was poisoned, died after drinking green tea laced with the rare and very potent radioactive isotope at London’s Millennium Hotel.

 

It took some time for British doctors to discern the cause of Litvinenko's illness."

Ahem, nothing at all, Litvinenko was a different individual, and stating that relations have soured doesn't indicate any suggestion of murder.

 

And it also has nothing to do with Trump, since he wasn't even president at the time Litvinenko dies, or any of the spy exchanges happened in the past.

 

The only thing I can clearly notice in this thread, and many others, is that you are obsessed with Trump and Russia.

[boomerangutang]

Modus operandi by Russian agents directed by Putin (who is former head of KGB).

Yet another reason for Trump to adore Putin - who is so tough on wiping out truth, and so rich.  

[ilostmypassword]

Here's your quesiton

 

5 minutes ago, janclaes47 said:

Ahem, nothing at all, Litvinenko was a different individual, and stating that relations have soured doesn't indicate any suggestion of murder.

 

And it also has nothing to do with Trump, since he wasn't even president at the time Litvinenko dies, or any of the spy exchanges happened in the past.

 

The only thing I can clearly notice in this thread, and many others, is that you are obsessed with Trump and Russia.

Here, once again is your original observation:

"I didn't read anything in the OP that suggested attempted murder, and what Trump has to do with this goes completely over my head."

You should think more about what your observations before you commit them to print.

[janclaes47]

3 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

Here's your quesiton

 

Here, once again is your original observation:

"I didn't read anything in the OP that suggested attempted murder, and what Trump has to do with this goes completely over my head."

You should think more about what your observations before you commit them to print.

Ever heard about suicide?

[Guest]

24 minutes ago, janclaes47 said:

Ever heard about suicide?

Double suicide in a shopping centre? 

 

I'd say Putin's order to kill them is a lot more likely. Especially given the history of such murders happening quite often to the people who are not on Putin's side. Management by fear and murder.

 

[RuamRudy]

1 hour ago, boomerangutang said:

Modus operandi by Russian agents directed by Putin (who is former head of KGB).

Yet another reason for Trump to adore Putin - who is so tough on wiping out truth, and so rich.  

And usually by very brazen, high visibility means.

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, RuamRudy said:

And usually by very brazen, high visibility means.

 

It's like showing "we can do this and there's nothing anyone can do about it". So you best be careful.

 

And tbh Wiltshire Constabulary is probably the least likely British police force to solve anything!

[Lokie]

2 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

It's like showing "we can do this and there's nothing anyone can do about it". So you best be careful.

 

And tbh Wiltshire Constabulary is probably the least likely British police force to solve anything!

I thought South Yorkshire's finest had that honour over past 20 years...?

 

Back to thread, does have all the hallmarks of a state elimination as seen before in UK, or maybe just strange so many russian expats mysteriously get very ill for no apparent reason?

[Air Smiles]

It's quite funny watching the western media fall over themselves to blame Putin before the investigation has even started. 

 

The Litvinenko enquiry came up with zero evidence after a full investigation but still blamed Putin.

 

I'm sensing a pattern here of blaming Russia without evidence.

[Becker]

50 minutes ago, Air Smiles said:

It's quite funny watching the western media fall over themselves to blame Putin before the investigation has even started. 

 

The Litvinenko enquiry came up with zero evidence after a full investigation but still blamed Putin.

 

I'm sensing a pattern here of blaming Russia without evidence.

And I'm sensing either a Putin apologist or someone vastly naive.

[Air Smiles]

5 minutes ago, Becker said:

And I'm sensing either a Putin apologist or someone vastly naive.

 

Or Door Number 3:

Someone who prefers evidence based allegations over blindly and dogmatically swallowing the propaganda whole.

 

So following your logic, ...you must be a vastly experienced Putin condemner?

-----------

 

He looks such an innocent, pillar of the community type of man, I can't think why anyone would want to kill him:

 

 

 

[Becker]

36 minutes ago, Air Smiles said:

 

Or Door Number 3:

Someone who prefers evidence based allegations over blindly and dogmatically swallowing the propaganda whole.

 

So following your logic, ...you must be a vastly experienced Putin condemner?

-----------

 

He looks such an innocent, pillar of the community type of man, I can't think why anyone would want to kill him:

 

 

 

I, OTOH, can.

[champers]

BBC is reporting that the lady is his daughter; both are in a critical condition. They are also showing some old footage of Putin being interviewed and pledging that traitors will "kick the bucket". A UK specialist anti-terrorist department has taken over the investigation.

[tattoodrob]

Those Ruskie assassins seem to have a big range of chemicals at there disposal..possibly this is VX Nerve agent or similar ...shame they have to do the daughter as well,his past is nothing to do with her poor girl......and guy.The Russians dont forgive and forget......even many years past now since his betrayal.

[Air Smiles]

Don't worry, Boris Johnson is looking into this!