Johnson warns Russia over witness collapse
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Yulia Skripal/Fb
Yulia Skripal and her father Sergei are seriously ill in scientific institution
The UK would respond « robustly » to any proof of Russian involvement in the collapse of gentle witness Sergei Skripal, Boris Johnson has said.
Mr Skripal, sixty six, and his daughter Yulia, 33, are seriously ill in scientific institution after being found unconscious in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
The foreign secretary said he used to be no longer pointing fingers at this stage, nonetheless described Russia as « a malign and disruptive force ».
Russia has denied any involvement.
Counter Terrorism Police beget taken over the investigation from Wiltshire Police.
However in a press launch, the unit said the inquiry had no longer been declared a terrorist incident and there used to be no threat to the broader public.
Family deaths
Mr Skripal’s relatives beget informed the BBC Russian Carrier that the gentle witness believed the Russian particular services and products might well perchance well well reach after him at any time.
His accomplice, elder brother and his son beget died in the previous two years, some in mysterious circumstances, the family imagine.
Ms Skripal is primarily based in Moscow and has visited her father in the UK repeatedly, particularly all via the final two years.
Mr Skripal – a delicate Russian agent convicted of spying for Britain – and his daughter were found slumped on a bench outside a procuring centre on Sunday afternoon.
Earlier they were seen walking via an alley leading from a Zizzi restaurant, which has now been « secured » by police. The Bishop’s Mill pub has also been cordoned off as a precaution.
Scientists at Porton Down – the UK’s secret weapons compare facility in Wiltshire – are studying the « unknown substance » that is belief to beget made the pair ill.
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Mr Johnson informed MPs: « Honourable participants will place the echoes of the loss of life of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006.
« I dispute to governments across the enviornment that no strive to opt innocent existence on UK soil will hasten unsanctioned or unpunished. »
Mr Johnson said that if it emerged Russia used to be linked to the incident in Salisbury « it might well perchance well well be very tough to mediate » that UK representation at this summer’s football World Cup might well perchance well well hasten forward in the « celebrated plot ».
Aides to Mr Johnson dispute he used to be relating to « officials » – and never the England group.
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Mr Johnson said the UK used to be « in the lead internationally » in looking out for to counteract a « host of malign enlighten » by Russia.
In a press launch, the Russian embassy in London said: « Media stories dangle an impression of a deliberate operation by the Russian particular services and products, which is entirely false. »
Responding to Mr Johnson’s comments, the Russian embassy added: « We remorse that as a substitute of a lawful good clarification on the quandary the Foreign Secretary chose to threaten Russia with retribution.
« Appears to be like admire the script of yet yet any other anti-Russian campaign has been already written. »
Analysis
By Norman Smith, BBC assistant political editor
Even supposing Boris Johnson used to be cautious to stress this used to be calm an ongoing investigation – or no longer it’s fully particular he, and others in executive, imagine or no longer it’s highly doubtless this used to be a Russian tell-subsidized assault.
The mountainous count on now – how does the manager respond?
A count on made extra pressing by accusations that ministers were responsible of appeasement in the wake of Alexander Litvinenko’s killing.
Mr Johnson instructed there might well perchance well furthermore be centered sanctions against these shut to President Putin.
And, perchance most a good deal, in a label the manager might well perchance well well peep to rally global beef up to gain a stand against Russia, Mr Johnson said there might well be in general a co-ordinated response with Nato allies.
Whatever measures are finally determined upon – if Russian involvement is confirmed – or no longer it’s particular relatives between London and Moscow beget plunged to modern depths.
Andrei Lugovoi, the gentle Russian agent accused of poisoning ex-witness Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006, informed the BBC that Russia would beget belief to be because the topic closed when Mr Skripal used to be flown to the UK as section of a witness swap in 2010.
Mr Skripal used to be pardoned by the Russian President and so the incident used to be over, Mr Lugovoi said.
Igor Sutyagin, who used to be one of four brokers released by Moscow in the substitute, is now a compare fellow at the Royal United Products and services Institute (RUSI).
He informed the BBC’s World Tonight programme that he used to be no longer yet concerned for his security and added: « I produce no longer think that he (Mr Skripal) might well perchance well well be centered, because he used to be pardoned. »
Russia has insisted it has « no files » about what might well perchance well well beget led to the incident, nonetheless says it’s originate to co-working with British police if requested.
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Police are at conceal examining CCTV photos, filmed by a Salisbury gym, showing an unidentified man Boris Johnson warns Russia over witness collapseand girl – belief to be Mr Skripal and his daughter – walking shut to the positioning the place they were found.
Wiltshire Police has said two officers caught up in the suspected contamination beget been treated in scientific institution for minor symptoms, sooner than they got the all particular. It is acknowledged their symptoms integrated itchy eyes and wheezing.
A third member of the emergency services and products remains in scientific institution.
In Salisbury, some residents beget informed the BBC of their surprise at the incident occurring in the little metropolis, whereas others are seemingly aloof.
« I’m no longer nervous for my bear security, » says Sue Doe, smoking a cigarette a stone’s throw from Zizzi’s.
« I am lawful interested to perceive what’s came about. »
Who is Sergei Skripal?
Col Skripal, sixty six, had been living in Salisbury after being released by Russia in 2010
Colonel Skripal, a retired Russian military intelligence officer, used to be jailed for 13 years by Russia in 2006.
He used to be convicted of passing the identities of Russian intelligence brokers working undercover in Europe to the UK’s Secret Intelligence Carrier, MI6.
In July 2010, he used to be one of four prisoners released by Moscow in substitute for 10 Russian spies arrested by the FBI as section of a swap. He used to be later flown to the UK.
In step with BBC Newsnight’s diplomatic editor Impress Urban, in newest years Col Skripal gave lectures at military academies offering perception into Russia’s foreign military intelligence company, the GRU.
Read extra about Sergei Skripal’s background here.
Putin, vitality and poison: Russia’s elite FSB witness membership
The possible of an unexplained substance being involved has drawn comparisons with the 2006 poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko.
The Russian dissident and gentle-weight intelligence officer died in London after ingesting tea laced with a radioactive substance.
A public inquiry concluded that his killing had doubtlessly been implemented with the approval of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
Mr Litvinenko’s widow, Marina Litvinenko, informed BBC Radio four’s The World Tonight that the latest incident felt admire « deja vu » – and known as for these receiving political asylum to be accurate by the UK.
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