UK prime minister expected to blame Russia over spy attempted murder

Relations are strained between Russia and the UK as the investigation in the attempted murder of a former double agent looks pointed towards Kremlin.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab

12 March, 2018

Skripal was convicted in Russia in 2004 for spying for MI6 and jailed [Getty]

A nerve agent attack on a former Russian agent in southern England looks like state-sponsored attempted murder, said the chairman of British parliament’s foreign affairs committee on Monday, and Moscow is likely to be blamed.

The poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia, looked "awfully like it was state-sponsored attempted murder" said lawmaker Tom Tugendhat.

Speaking on BBC radio, Tugendhat added, "we’re expecting the prime minister to make an announcement soon and frankly I would be surprised if she did not point the finger at the Kremlin."

The British Home Secretary warned that Britain will act "powerfully" if Moscow’s guilt is proven over the nerve agent attack in Salisbury.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, Amber Rudd said that up to four other mysterious deaths with possible links to Russia in recent years may be reopened once the Skripal case is concluded.

Skripal was convicted in Russia in 2004 for spying for MI6 and jailed.

He was later released as part of a spy swap in 2010 and moved to Salisbury.