A WARRANT is out for the arrest on two Russian nationals and members of the Russian military intelligence service believed to be behind the nerve agent attack in Salisbury.

Counter-terror police announced today that they had sufficient evidence to charge two men known as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, both believed to be about 40, following the attack on March 4.

And Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed the pair were GRU officers, and the attack was not “rogue”.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it had sufficient evidence to charge the pair with: 

  • Conspiracy to murder Sergei Skripal
  • Attempted murder of Sergei Skripal, Yulia Skripal and Nick Bailey
  • Use and possession of Novichok contrary to the Chemical Weapons Act.
  • Causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Yulia Skripal and Nick Bailey.

Police also revealed Novichok had been contained in a fake Nina Ricci perfume bottle, and Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said: “The manner in which the bottle and packaging has been adapted makes it a perfect cover for smuggling the weapon into the country, and a perfect delivery method for the attack against the Skripals’ front door.”

The Met said it will not be applying to Russia for extradition of the two men, as the Russian constitution does not permit extradition of its own nationals.

But they have obtained a European Arrest Warrant, which  means that if either man travels to a country where an EAW is valid they will be arrested and face extradition on these charges, for which there is no statute of limitations.

Police believe that both suspects had travelled to the UK previously, using the same passports they used for the visit in March.

Counter-terror police are asking witnesses to come forward to confirm Petrov and Boshirov’s real identities as it’s believed that they are using pseudonyms.

Theresa May said the attack highlights the specific nature of the threat from the Russian GRU, who she described as “a threat to all our allies and all our citizens”.

She said the UK is now sharing intelligence with allies about the investigation and will “deploy the full range of tools from across our national security apparatus” to counter the GRU.

And Mrs May paid tribute to the people of Salisbury in the wake of the “barbaric activity” seen in the city.

AC Basu revealed details of the suspects’ movements in the days leading to the attack, including travelling to London from Russia and visiting Salisbury the day before the attack, in what police have described as a “reconnaissance mission”.

Counter-terror officers say there is no evidence to suggest that either of the men has since re-entered the UK.

And after taking advice from Public Health England, police said they were “confident” that there was no risk to members of the public who were on the same flight, trains or public transport used by the suspects.

Traces of Novichok were also found in the hotel room used by the men in London, “at levels below that which would cause concern for public health”.

Following tests, experts deemed the room was safe and that it posed no risk to the public AC Basu said today: “We have now linked the attack on the Skripals and the events in Amesbury which affected Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley. It now forms one investigation.

“We do not believe Dawn and Charlie were deliberately targeted, but became victims as a result of the recklessness in which such a toxic nerve agent was disposed of.

“We know that Novichok was applied to the Skripals’ front door in an area that is accessible to the public, which also endangered the lives of members of the public and emergency service responders.”