UK's May says 'highly likely' Russia behind nerve attack on spy

[webfact]

UK's May says 'highly likely' Russia behind nerve attack on spy

By Alistair Smout and Michael Holden

 

A person walks past the sign of Moscow road near to the Russian embassy in London, Britain March 12, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday it was "highly likely" that Moscow was responsible for the poisoning in England of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter using a military-grade nerve agent.

 

May told parliament that either the Russian state was directly responsible for the poisoning or it had allowed the nerve agent to get into the hands of others. London has given Russia until the end of Tuesday to explain its use.

 

British officials had identified the substance as being part of the Novichok group of nerve agents which were developed by the Soviet military during the 1970s and 1980s, May said.

 

"Should there be no credible response, we will conclude that this action amounts to an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the United Kingdom," she said, calling the attack a "reckless and despicable act".

 

Russia's foreign ministry hit back immediately, saying May's comments were a "circus show" and part of a political information campaign against Russia.

 

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said U.S. President Donald Trump's administration stood by America's "closest ally".

 

"The use of a highly lethal nerve agent against UK citizens on UK soil is an outrage," Sanders said. "The attack was reckless, indiscriminate and irresponsible. We offer the fullest condemnation."

 

Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia, have been in hospital in a critical condition since being found unconscious on a bench outside a shopping centre in the city of Salisbury on March 4.

 

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the use of any nerve agent was "horrendous and completely unacceptable" and "this incident is of great concern to NATO".

 

Relations between Britain and Russia have been strained since the murder in London of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, who died in 2006 after drinking green tea laced with radioactive polonium-210.

 

On Monday, May said the latest poisoning took place "against a backdrop of a well-established pattern of Russian state aggression" and that Britain was ready to take "much more extensive measures" against Russia than in the past.

 

Russia's ambassador to London has been summoned to explain to British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson how the nerve agent came to have been used.

 

"On Wednesday we will consider in detail the response from the Russian state," May said.

 

Novichok agents are believed to be five to 10 times more lethal than the more commonly known VX and Sarin gases. They cause a slowing of the heart and restriction of the airways, leading to death by asphyxiation, University of Reading pharmacology professor Gary Stephens said.

 

RUSSIAN TV: WORLD CUP SPOILER PLOT

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin brushed off a question about the affair while visiting a grain centre in southern Russia, saying British authorities should first "get to the bottom of things", the BBC's Moscow correspondent wrote on Twitter.

 

Russian state TV accused Britain of poisoning Skripal as part of a special operation designed to spoil Russia's hosting of the soccer World Cup this summer.

 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Skripal worked for British intelligence and the attack happened in Britain so it was not a matter for the Russian government.

 

A British policeman who was one of the first to attend to the stricken spy was also affected by the nerve agent. He is now conscious in a serious but stable condition, police said.

 

Skripal is a former colonel in Russia's GRU military intelligence who was convicted of passing secrets to Britain's MI6 intelligence agency and later exchanged in a spy swap.

 

The chairman of the British parliament's foreign affairs committee, Tom Tugendhat, said Russia's so-called oligarchs, who have amassed fortunes during Putin's 18-year rule, should be denied entry to the luxuries of London and the West.

 

The British capital has been dubbed "Londongrad" due to the large quantities of Russian money that have poured in since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

 

May last year said Putin was seeking to undermine the West and the international order by meddling in elections, and promised to ensure corrupt money did not flow into Britain from Russia.

 

A British public inquiry found the 2006 killing of Litvinenko had probably been approved by Putin and carried out by two Russians, Dmitry Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoy - a former KGB bodyguard who later became a member of the Russian parliament.

 

Cordons remained in place in the centre of Salisbury and some police investigators wore full chemical and biological suits. The army was later deployed to help remove items from the scene.

 

Health officials said there was no wider risk to public health.

 

Jenny Harries, deputy medical director at Public Health England, suggested members of the public who had visited the same restaurant and pub as Skripal and his daughter on March 4 should wash their clothes, clean phones and bags with baby wipes and wash items such as jewellery and spectacles with warm water and detergent.

 

(Additional reporting by Andrew Osborn in Moscow, Jonathan Shenfield and Alex Fraser in Salisbury, Anthony Deutsch in Amsterdam and David Alexander in Washington; Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by Richard Balmforth and Catherine Evans)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-13

[Grouse]

Shut the Russian embassy, kick them all out immediately.

[terryw]

Freeze the assets of the Russian oligarchs and give their homes to Grenfill victims.

[mark01]

You can tell when they're lying, their lips move.

[rudi49jr]

Freddy Royle, where are you to say that the Russians has nothing to do with this?

Edited March 13, 2018 by rudi49jr

[Becker]

1 hour ago, mark01 said:

You can tell when they're lying, their lips move.

Exactly who is it you're referring to?

[spidermike007]

There is absolutely no doubt, that Putin was behind this. Nothing happens in Russia, of a heinous nature, without Putin's hand having been in the mix. He ordered this hit. He is far less tolerant of dissent than Trump. The difference is, that Putin has his detractors wiped off the face of the earth. Without even blinking, or losing one minutes sleep. He has been responsible for the murder of thousands, in the course of his career. And now he is raping and pillaging the nation. A true dictator despot. Russia has to be held to task for this, and further isolated from the world community. They need to be treated as the pariahs they are. 

[chuang]

Well what can UK do, Russia had done that before.....

[RuamRudy]

33 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

There is absolutely no doubt, that Putin was behind this. Nothing happens in Russia, of a heinous nature, without Putin's hand having been in the mix. He ordered this hit. He is far less tolerant of dissent than Trump. The difference is, that Putin has his detractors wiped off the face of the earth. Without even blinking, or losing one minutes sleep. He has been responsible for the murder of thousands, in the course of his career. And now he is raping and pillaging the nation. A true dictator despot. Russia has to be held to task for this, and further isolated from the world community. They need to be treated as the pariahs they are. 

I have no feel for the events one way or the other, but the thing I cannot understand is why Putin would do this now, unless he wanted to prod at an already weak, crisis riddled government?

 

I think that your description of him raping and pillaging the nation is somewhat hyperbolic. I lived and worked in Russia for 8 years - I knew nobody who was ignorant of the inherent corruption in Russian politics, but the Russian way was, believe it or not, more akin to grudging admiration rather than condemnation. The simple fact is though, that the quality of life for just about everyone across the country has improved enormously, and more importantly for Russians, their sense of national pride has been restored. The reports of his popularity among the masses are not, to my experience, overblown.

[baboon]

3 hours ago, terryw said:

Freeze the assets of the Russian oligarchs and give their homes to Grenfill victims.

...and enjoy freezing to death next winter when they switch off the gas. May can strut all she wants but when it comes down to it there is nothing she can do. Jesus, how can a country that cannot afford to keep the street lights on or empty the bloody bins more than once a fortnight possibly think they can rattle Russia? What next - Bangladesh declaring war on China? Talk about the mouse that roared...

[overherebc]

Seems Novichok can be in powder or liquid form.

Powder form might be easier to transport/handle.

8 to 10 times stronger than VX.

Scary stuff.

[Credo]

43 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

I have no feel for the events one way or the other, but the thing I cannot understand is why Putin would do this now, unless he wanted to prod at an already weak, crisis riddled government?

I think this has more to do with sending a message to other spies.   I don't think they particularly care one way or the other that it is the UK.    

[evadgib]

Farage/LBC this morning:

https://www.liveleak.com/view?t=CLX79_1520904245

[Orac]

1 hour ago, RuamRudy said:

I have no feel for the events one way or the other, but the thing I cannot understand is why Putin would do this now, unless he wanted to prod at an already weak, crisis riddled government?

 

I think that your description of him raping and pillaging the nation is somewhat hyperbolic. I lived and worked in Russia for 8 years - I knew nobody who was ignorant of the inherent corruption in Russian politics, but the Russian way was, believe it or not, more akin to grudging admiration rather than condemnation. The simple fact is though, that the quality of life for just about everyone across the country has improved enormously, and more importantly for Russians, their sense of national pride has been restored. The reports of his popularity among the masses are not, to my experience, overblown.

 

The aim is to destablise UK govt which is possibly why it is so obvious.  Wouldn't surprise me if TM finds herself in the unenviable position of pulling England out of the World Cup which, in an already divided country, would create further discord.

Edited March 13, 2018 by Orac

[RuamRudy]

22 minutes ago, Credo said:

I think this has more to do with sending a message to other spies.   I don't think they particularly care one way or the other that it is the UK.    

Espionage is a dangerous business no matter who you work for - surely the message is well understood already?

[tumama]

Gotta love it how everyone immediately assumes Russia was behind this without seeing any evidence. Like no other country has a motive to carry out such an attack so Russia gets blamed for it.

[Orac]

4 minutes ago, tumama said:

Gotta love it how everyone immediately assumes Russia was behind this without seeing any evidence. Like no other country has a motive to carry out such an attack so Russia gets blamed for it.

 

Did you notice the original post about TMs statement to parliament?

[baboon]

2 minutes ago, tumama said:

Gotta love it how everyone immediately assumes Russia was behind this without seeing any evidence. Like no other country has a motive to carry out such an attack so Russia gets blamed for it.

Maybe Russia is behind it, maybe it isn't. However the UK's hysterical reaction is what interests me - talk about making a drama out of a crisis. Somebody (or somebodies) isn't half capitalising on all this and it isn't Putin... 

[overherebc]

7 minutes ago, tumama said:

Gotta love it how everyone immediately assumes Russia was behind this without seeing any evidence. Like no other country has a motive to carry out such an attack so Russia gets blamed for it.

Russian made agent, Ex spy who was Russian attacked.

Why would any other country be behind it.

Just a 'you can run but you can't hide message.'

[Scott]

Here's a little more:

 

Tillerson casts poisoning as sign of more aggressive Russia

 

ABOARD A U.S. GOVERNMENT AIRCRAFT (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson cast the poisoning of an ex-spy in Britain as part of a "certain unleashing of activity" by Russia that the United States is struggling to understand. He warned that the poisoning would "certainly trigger a response."

Tillerson, echoing the British government's finger-pointing toward Moscow, said he didn't yet know whether Russia's government knew of the attack with a military-grade nerve agent, but that one way or another, "it came from Russia."

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/tillerson-casts-poisoning-sign-more-aggressive-russia-231535563--politics.html

[RuamRudy]

2 minutes ago, baboon said:

Maybe Russia is behind it, maybe it isn't. However the UK's hysterical reaction is what interests me - talk about making a drama out of a crisis. Somebody (or somebodies) isn't half capitalising on all this and it isn't Putin... 

 

UK government at its weakest in living memory; constitutional crisis on the doorstep, country riven down the middle with disagreement but united in its disgruntlement with our current situation - if the UK spooks are actually behind it, it is either a crazy move to try to distract us from the realities of everyday life, or a bold move to try to pull us all together in the face of a foreign bogeman.

[Becker]

1 minute ago, RuamRudy said:

 

UK government at its weakest in living memory; constitutional crisis on the doorstep, country riven down the middle with disagreement but united in its disgruntlement with our current situation - if the UK spooks are actually behind it, it is either a crazy move to try to distract us from the realities of everyday life, or a bold move to try to pull us all together in the face of a foreign bogeman.

Yes, that's definitively the most likely explanation!

[overherebc]

11 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

 

UK government at its weakest in living memory; constitutional crisis on the doorstep, country riven down the middle with disagreement but united in its disgruntlement with our current situation - if the UK spooks are actually behind it, it is either a crazy move to try to distract us from the realities of everyday life, or a bold move to try to pull us all together in the face of a foreign bogeman.

I just started my stop watch to check how long it will take you to bring the SNP into it.

[KhaoNiaw]

23 minutes ago, baboon said:

Maybe Russia is behind it, maybe it isn't. However the UK's hysterical reaction is what interests me - talk about making a drama out of a crisis. Somebody (or somebodies) isn't half capitalising on all this and it isn't Putin... 

It's very interesting to watch how easily people like yourself are being led straight up the garden path. 

[baboon]

2 minutes ago, KhaoNiaw said:

It's very interesting to watch how easily people like yourself are being led straight up the garden path. 

Go on...? 

[RuamRudy]

12 minutes ago, overherebc said:

I just started my stop watch to check how long it will take you to bring the SNP into it.

You can stop it if you like - maybe check the post I was replying too and my subsequent use of the word 'IF'.

In fact, go back further and see my scepticism about all theories - or just continue with your lazy analysis and weak attempts at derision.

[Grouse]

Novichok or fourth generation agents don't appear to be particularly difficult to manufacture. However, by analysing the precise composition of the samples obtained Porton may be able to identify the plant involved if they have other samples made available to them. Proportion of isomers or residual precursors for example. May should insist on access to manufacturing locations.

[Grouse]

Who gives a damn whether the soccer proceeds or not. It's not a sport anyway and hasn't been for years. Just a matter of money. If anyone is interested, let them go; by bus preferably!

[overherebc]

24 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

You can stop it if you like - maybe check the post I was replying too and my subsequent use of the word 'IF'.

In fact, go back further and see my scepticism about all theories - or just continue with your lazy analysis and weak attempts at derision.

'If'

You sticking 'if' in just gives you an out in case anyone calls your amazing speculations amazing.

[dunroaming]

Well we have been here before and probably will be again.  There are some things that May can do but none of them are going to have any lasting effect on Russia.  Pulling out of the World Cup would be pathetic at best although some fans might feel that at least that would mean England wouldn't get knocked out in the early stages ().  OK I am just joking!