Spy Poisoned With Military-Grade Russian Nerve Agent

Theresa May tells lawmakers it is 'highly likely' Russia behind poisoning of Sergei Skripal
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Mar 12, 2018 12:42 PM CDT
British PM: Nerve Agent Used on Spy Is Made by Russia
Military personnel in College Street Car Park in Salisbury, Sunday March 11, 2018, as police and members of the armed forces probe the suspected nerve agent attack on Russian double agent Sergei Skripal, which took place on Sunday March 4.   (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

The Russian ex-spy poisoned in England was exposed to a military-grade nerve agent of a type produced by Russia, says British Prime Minister Theresa May. May told lawmakers during an address in parliament on Monday it was "highly likely' Russia was responsible for poisoning Sergei Skripal, the former Russian military intelligence officer who was convicted of spying for Britain, reports the AP. May says Russia's ambassador to the UK has been summoned to explain how a Russian nerve agent turned up in Salisbury, the English city where Skripal and his adult daughter were sickened.

The BBC indicates May suggests Russian culpability: for either being behind the poisoning or "losing control" of a dose of nerve agent. The British prime minister says if Moscow is proven to be behind the poisoning, her government will consider it an "unlawful use of force" by Russia. Hours earlier, President Vladimir Putin had been asked by a British reporter in southern Russia if Russia was behind the poisoning. His response: "You first get to the bottom of things over there, and after that we can discuss it." Skripal and his daughter remain in critical condition following the March 4 nerve agent attack in England. Authorities still haven't specified which nerve agent was used.

(More Sergei Skripal stories.)

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