Police hunt for mystery couple ‘spotted near Russian spy Sergei Skripal moments before he collapsed’ as nerve agent probe broadens to second Dorset town
A MYSTERY couple spotted near poisoned ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter before they collapsed are being hunted by authorities, it is reported.
A grainy image of the pair, who “appear to be in love”, is being shown around to Russian business figures in London in a desperate attempt to identify them, Russia’s media has this morning reported.
It comes as the investigation into the Salisbury poisoning of a former Russian spy was this morning extended into Dorset, with the military called into the town of Gillingham.
A recovery truck used to take away the car of a poisoned Russian spy was itself loaded onto an lorry today as the clean-up operation moved into a new county.
The military, police and emergency service operation rolled into Gillingham, Dorset and men in Hazmat suits visited the home of a driver thought to have towed the car of Sergei Skripal.
Russian media outlet Rosbalt today claimed that members of the emigre community in London are being shown an image of a couple, who appear to be in love, as part of the investigation.
The report added: “The police are saying that they are interested in them because of the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal.”
They said the man appeared to have dark hair and was accompanied by a blonde woman, appearing to be between 35 and 40-years-old.
What we know so far:
- Jeremy Corbyn was branded Vladimir Putin’s puppet after refusing to accept Russia was behind the nerve agent attack.
- Skripal’s niece claimed that daughter Yulia could have been the real target of the nerve agent attack.
- Glushkov’s daughter Natalia is believed to be in hiding after discovering her dad’s dead body.
- CCTV footage emerged showing Skripal’s last journey before the chemical attack.
- The Russian Embassy has responded by calling the expulsion ‘unacceptable, unjustified and shortsighted’ – and said ‘response measures will not be long in coming’.
- Theresa May announced she would kick out 23 diplomats in the wake of the Sergei Skripal case.
- The Prime Minister also confirmed government officials and members of the Royal family would not be attending the World Cup in Russia.
- The Foreign Office has issued a warning to Brits travelling to Russia warning of possible ‘anti-British sentiment or harassment’.
- Skripal and daughter Yulia remain in a critical condition in hospital after being exposed to a nerve agent in Salisbury on March 4.
- Another cordon has now been set up 25 miles away in Gillingham, Dorset.
- Russian exiles have now been asked by cops to help identify a mystery couple aged between 35 and 40 seen close to Skripal and his daughter before they collapsed.
- Russian exile Nikolai Glushkov was discovered dead with ‘strangulation marks’ on his neck on Monday night by daughter Natalia Glushkova in New Malden, South West London.
A source claimed that the photo had been taken from surveillance cameras.
They said: “They are in the street seemingly like a couple in love.”
Russians living in London are being quizzed about the couple – particularly being asked if they are fearful of identifying the pair.
Prime Minister Theresa May today slammed Russia for the “reckless and despicable” act, saying they had treated the situation with “sarcasm, contempt and defiance.”
She listed a number of measures that the UK would now put into force in the wake of the use of the chemical weapon, giving the 23 Russian intelligence officers one week to leave the country.
She also revealed checks on private flights would be increased, with no Ministers or members of the Royal Family to attend this summer’s World Cup in Russia.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons will now undertake an independent analysis of the nerve agent used in the attack.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has hit back, saying the Ms May’s statement was a “flagrant provocation”.
The Kremlin had previously lashed out at Ms May with sinister nuclear threats yesterday as the stand-off over the poisoning scandal escalated, with a Russian foreign ministry spokesman issuing a chilling warning not to “threaten a nuclear power”.
Britain has received support from the US, Germany, France and other EU leaders.
Tensions rocketed after the Russian Embassy in London formally refused Mrs May’s demand to come clean over the attack with a series of tweets posted from 5.30pm.
The embassy insisted: “Moscow will not respond to London’s ultimatum until it receives samples of the chemical substance to which the UK investigators are referring”.
Ms May’s comments come as the police probe into the Salisbury poisoning investigation widened to Dorset with a recovery truck, which may have been used to remove a car driven by the father or daughter targeted in the poisoning attack, to be removed from the town.
Gillingham and Salisbury, the town where the initial poisoning unfolded, are about 25 miles apart.
Military personnel are at the scene, with large trucks pictured crossing the cordon.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “The military is assisting police to remove a number of vehicles and items from areas of Dorset, following the incident in Salisbury.
“The public should not be alarmed and the public health advice remains the same.
“The military has the expertise and capability to respond to a range of contingencies.
“The Ministry of Defence regularly assists the emergency services and local authorities in the UK. Military assistance will continue as necessary during this investigation.”
Local media has reported that a section of Hyde Road in Gillingham between Waverland Terrace Bungalows and Coronation Road was sealed off today.
Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, 33, were exposed to an “unknown substance” while out in Salisbury on Sunday, March 4, 2018.
They were found slumped on a bench in a “catatonic state” and anti-terror police are investigating CCTV believed to show the Russian father and daughter before the suspected “poisoning“.
Russia’s UK embassy have denied that their special services were involved.
As pressure mounted on Russia today, Moscow’s media began published increasingly bizarre claims about the cause of the poisoning.
claimed Skripal’s daughter Yulia had been the real target of the attack because she had fallen out of favour with her future mother-in-law.
Anti-terror cops yesterday launched an investigation into the death of Russian exile Nikolai Glushkov.
The 68-year-old was found with “strangulation marks” at his home in New Malden by his daughter Natalia on Monday night.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd linked his death to that of his close friend – Russian oligarch and Putin critic Boris Berezovsky – who was also found dead in his London home in 2013.
Russia’s ambassador to the UK Alexander Vladimirovich Yakovenko told Sky News that the British governments actions had been “absolutely unacceptable.”
He said the measures taken by the UK had been “serious provocation”, adding they had “nothing to do with” the Salisbury poisoning.
The Foreign Office has since updated its travel information for Brits in Russia, warning: “Due to heightened political tensions between the UK and Russia, you should be aware of the possibility of anti-British sentiment or harassment at this time.”
Prime Minister Theresa May said it was “highly likely” ex-spy Skripal and his daughter was attacked with a Russian produced nerve agent called Novichok.
Public Health England have sought to calm fears by saying the risk to the general public is still minimal.
The chemical weapon was designed by Russian scientists to kill thousands in battle in the 1980s and questions remain over how it came to be used in the UK.
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