Watchdog confirms UK findings on nerve agent used on Russian spy

The world’s chemical arms watchdog on Thursday said it
had confirmed Britain’s findings on a nerve agent used in an attack
on a former spy last month, which London said came from
Russia.

Samples tested by the Organisation for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons (OPCW) “confirm the findings of the United Kingdom
relating to the identity of the toxic chemical,” according to a
summary of the Hague-based group’s report.

It added that “the toxic chemical was of high purity”.

In a declassified summary of its findings, the OPCW did not make
any assessment on who carried out the March 4 attack on former
double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the English
city of Salisbury that also injured a police officer.

Britain and allies including the United States have blamed
Moscow, sparking furious denials and provoking an international row
resulting in the expulsions of diplomats from all sides.

The OPCW did not name the chemical, saying that information and
its structure would be in a full classified report available to
signatory states of the organisation.

Britain named it as Novichok, a group of powerful and deadly
chemical compounds reportedly developed by the Soviet government in
the 1970s and 1980s.

Prime Minister Theresa May’s government has said Russia was
known to have used it, and pointed to the country’s pattern of
“reckless behaviour”, including the annexation of Crimea.

Russia has strongly denied any involvement, and insists it has
destroyed all of its chemical weapons.

Skripal moved to Britain in a spy swap in 2010 and settled in
Salisbury, and his daughter Yulia was visiting from Russia when
they were poisoned, possibly on his front door.

Despite initial fears that they would not survive, Yulia Skripal
was released from hospital to an undisclosed location earlier this
week, while her father is said to be improving rapidly.

AFP

The world’s chemical arms watchdog on Thursday said it
had confirmed Britain’s findings on a nerve agent used in an attack
on a former spy last month, which London said came from
Russia.

Samples tested by the Organisation for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons (OPCW) “confirm the findings of the United Kingdom
relating to the identity of the toxic chemical,” according to a
summary of the Hague-based group’s report.

It added that “the toxic chemical was of high purity”.

In a declassified summary of its findings, the OPCW did not make
any assessment on who carried out the March 4 attack on former
double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the English
city of Salisbury that also injured a police officer.

Britain and allies including the United States have blamed
Moscow, sparking furious denials and provoking an international row
resulting in the expulsions of diplomats from all sides.

The OPCW did not name the chemical, saying that information and
its structure would be in a full classified report available to
signatory states of the organisation.

Britain named it as Novichok, a group of powerful and deadly
chemical compounds reportedly developed by the Soviet government in
the 1970s and 1980s.

Prime Minister Theresa May’s government has said Russia was
known to have used it, and pointed to the country’s pattern of
“reckless behaviour”, including the annexation of Crimea.

Russia has strongly denied any involvement, and insists it has
destroyed all of its chemical weapons.

Skripal moved to Britain in a spy swap in 2010 and settled in
Salisbury, and his daughter Yulia was visiting from Russia when
they were poisoned, possibly on his front door.

Despite initial fears that they would not survive, Yulia Skripal
was released from hospital to an undisclosed location earlier this
week, while her father is said to be improving rapidly.

AFP