Nerve agent ‘found in Zizzi’ as it’s claimed spy took flowers laced with poison to wife’s grave
Traces of the nerve agent thought to have poisoned Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury last Sunday has been found in the Italian restaurant where thy ate that day, it has been reported
TRACES of the nerve agent thought to have poisoned former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia have been found at Zizzi, it has been claimed.
The that traces of the poison had been found at the Italian restaurant where the father and daughter had a meal before they were found on conscious last Sunday, March 4, in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
The restaurant has been closed to the public since Sunday, and police declined to comment on the report.
The BBC, without citing a source, reported that authorities did not think anyone else who had been there was at risk from the nerve agent.
There is also no suggestion that anyone dining at the time had anything to do with the nerve agent.
It comes as chemical experts are reported to be probing whether flowers taken by the former spy to his wife's grave were laced with poison.
A "a highly placed source" told the that one line of inquiry is that the bouquet may have been laced with poison.
This possibility is centred on if the flowers were sent to the former double agent's home by whoever targeted him accompanied by a card to suggest they came from a friend of his wife and a request to take them to the cemetery.
Earlier today, Sergeant Nick Bailey , 38, - who fell critically ill after coming into contact with the nerve agent - said he 'does not consider himself a hero.'
A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: "Nick would like us to say on his behalf that he and his family are hugely grateful for all the messages of support from the public, and colleagues from the police family.
"He wants to say that he does not consider himself a ‘hero’, he states he was merely doing his job."
Counter terrorism police investigating the suspected nerve agent attack have identified over 200 witnesses and are looking at more than 240 pieces of evidence, Home Secretary Amber Rudd has said.
Following a meeting of the government’s Cobra committee, she said there were more than 250 counter terrorism police involved in the investigation which was proceeding with “speed and professionalism”.
Russian double agent Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia are still fighting for their lives after being exposed to a toxic substance in the Wiltshire city last Sunday.
Suspicion is mounting that Russia carried out the attempt on their lives as an act of revenge against the former intelligence officer, who was convicted in 2006 of selling state secrets to MI6.
The Kremlin denies responsibility and British ministers have urged caution over apportioning blame until the facts become clear.
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