Nerve agent used in Salisbury poisoning of Sergei Skripal was delivered 'in liquid form'

New information about the attack has come to light.
Chloe Chaplain17 April 2018

More details have emerged about the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter revealing that the nerve agent was delivered in a "liquid form".

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said that a "very small amount" of the deadly Novichok substance was used against Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia.

The highest concentration was found at Mr Skripal's home on the outskirts of Salisbury, with eight other areas across the city potentially contaminated.

The information about the toxic substance emerged at a press briefing on Tuesday.

Investigation: The nerve agent used to attack the former Russian double agent was delivered in a "liquid form", the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said
PA

A spokesman for Defra said: "In this instance, direct contact is required for a person to poisoned. Only a small proportion of the material is transferred in each contact and the substance is diluted in each secondary or tertiary contact.

"The class of nerve agent does not produce significant vapour or gas and can only be moved between sites by direct transfer from a contaminated person or by moving a contaminated item."

Asked what form the nerve agent was in, the Defra spokesman said: "It's in a liquid form."

It comes as the first of 10 sites cordoned off across the city was reopened to the public on Tuesday.

Tests confirmed the area of London Road cemetery, which contains the remains of Mr Skripal's dead wife and son, was not contaminated.

Meanwhile, work is set to begin to decontaminate the nine other locations experts either know or believe are contaminated.

"We either know there is contamination there, or we think there is a probability we could find contamination there," Defra said.

Emergency services investigate the scene where the pair were found last month
AFP/Getty Images

A multimillion-pound operation, involving around 190 specialist military personnel, is expected to start in the coming days, with the process lasting months.

The evidence room and a police officer's locker inside Bourne Hill police station will be among the first areas to be cleaned, along with two ambulance stations and The Maltings area - where the Skripals were found.

Other sites to follow include Zizzi restaurant, a car compound and the home of poisoned police officer Nick Bailey.

Businesses are beginning to reopen following the incident in Salisbury
PA

The Mill pub and Mr Skripal's home, which are still part of the police investigation, will be the last to be cleaned.

Residents have been warned to expect to see more activity in the city as cordons are replaced with secure fencing and specialists wearing protective suits begin work to remove items and begin the chemical cleaning process.

Public Health England assured locals the risk to the general public remains low and that Salisbury remains safe for visitors and residents. No further cases of poisoning have been reported since the day of the attack, March 4.

Russian Spy Sergei Skripal: Salisbury Nerve Agent Incident

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Defra's chief scientific adviser, Ian Boyd, said: "Thanks to detailed information gathered during the police's investigation, and our scientific understanding of how the agent works and is spread, we have been able to categorise the likely level of contamination at each site and are drawing up a tailored plan.

"Meticulous work is required and we expect it will be a number of months before all sites are fully reopened."

Additional reporting by PA.

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