Sergei Skripal 'poisoning' - as it happened: Theresa May chairs National Security Council meeting on Russian spy incident

Russian government says it has 'no information' on apparent poisoning of former double agent and his daughter

Russian spy investigation: CCTV shows two people in alleyway near Zizzi restaurant

Police are continuing to investigate the "unknown substance" that left a former Russian double agent and his daughter in a critical condition in hospital.

Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter, Yulia, were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury on Sunday.

Several members of emergency services personnel who responded to the call were themselves taken ill, with one remaining in hospital.

Investigators have seized CCTV footage from a nearby gym showing a man and woman, believed to be the victims, walking nearby just half an hour before police were called.

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Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, confirmed the victims' identities while answering an urgent question on the incident in the House of Commons.

“It is too early to speculate as to the precise nature of the crime or attempted crime that has taken place in Salisbury, but I know members will have their suspicions and what I will say is that if those suspicions prove to be well-founded than this Government will take whatever measures we deem necessary to protect the lives of people in this country, our values and our freedoms,” he said.

“Though I am not now pointing fingers, I say to governments around the world that no attempt to take innocent life on UK soil will go either unsanctioned or unpunished.”

An Italian chain restaurant has been closed as a precaution, with staff being interviewed as the probe continues.

Relatives told the BBC that Ms Skripal, 33, was in Britain to visit her father. His son is said to have died in non-suspicious circumstances while on holiday in Russia last year.

Mr Skripal is a former Russian double agent, who was convicted in his home country after spying for the UK.

Once a colonel in Russia's GRU military intelligence service, he was given refuge in Britain after he was exchanged in 2010 for Russian spies caught in the West as part of a Cold War-style swap in Vienna.

The case has been compared to that of former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko, who died after being poisoned with radioactive polonium-210, which was believed to have been put in his tea.

The Independent understands that police are looking for similarities between the cases and the modus operandi used.

Counter-terror police are helping with the investigation, although the incident itself is not terror-related.

Wiltshire Police said that Public Health England “reiterated that, based on the evidence to date, there is no known risk to the public's health.

“However, as a precaution they have advised that if you feel ill contact NHS on 111. If you feel your own or another's health is significantly deteriorating, ring 999”.

A major incident was declared at Salisbury District Hospital after the patients arrived, with people told not to attend A&E unless it is “extremely urgent”.

In Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with reporters Russia that the government did not “have any information” but was ready to cooperate with Britain if asked.

Key Points

• Theresa May chairs National Security Council meeting on incident 
• Boris Johnson vows fresh sanctions if Russia behind attack
• Emergency services personnel taken ill after helping victims
• Police investigating CCTV from outside Zizzi restaurant
• Counter-terror police helping to identify 'unknown substance'
• Investigators probing similarities to Alexander Litvinenko murder
• How Russian media covered the story
• Who is Sergei Skripal?

[6 March 2018 11:31 · Lizzie Dearden]

Good morning and welcome to our live blog on the latest developments on the suspected poisoning of a former Russian double agent, Sergei Skripal, and a woman believed to be his daughter.

They remain in a critical condition in hospital as police continue working to identify the 'unknown substance' they were exposed to. A Zizzi restaurant in Salisbury has been closed, with areas including the bench they were found unconscious on cordoned off for decontamination.

[6 March 2018 11:50 · Lizzie Dearden]

[6 March 2018 11:55 · Lizzie Dearden]

Wiltshire Police have confirmed that officers who responded to Mr Skripal and his daughter fell ill themselves.

"We can confirm that a small number of emergency services personnel were assessed immediately after the incident and all but one have been released from hospital," a spokesperson said.

They reportedly suffered itchy eyes and wheezing after contact with the two patients, who remain in a critical condition in hospital.

Mr Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, did not have any visible injuries and are being treated for exposure to an unknown substance.

[6 March 2018 11:57 · Lizzie Dearden]

A number of areas remain closed off in Salisbury, including a Zizzi restaurant on Castle Street and The Bishop’s Mill pub in The Maltings shopping district. 

Public Health England say that, based on the evidence to date, currently there doesn't appear to be any immediate risk to public health.

"We have access to a wide range of specialist resources and services that are helping us to understand what we are or aren’t dealing with at this time," Wiltshire Police said.

"We would continue to appeal to any members of the public who may have information in relation to this incident to contact us immediately via 101 or 999."

[6 March 2018 12:10 · Lizzie Dearden]

[6 March 2018 12:13 · Lizzie Dearden]

Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, will be responding to an urgent question in the Commons on the Government's policy towards Russia in the wake of the incident later today.

Speaker John Bercow has granted the request to Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. 

[6 March 2018 12:43 · Lizzie Dearden]

Mr Tugendhat has now posed the question, with Mr Johnson saying that there is "much speculation about a disturbing incident in Salisbury", confirming the identity of Mr Skripal and his daughter, Yulia.

[6 March 2018 12:45 · Lizzie Dearden]

He said MPs had noticed the similarities with Alexander Litvinenko's death in 2006 but that he would not confirm "speculation" or prejudice the ongoing investigation.

"I can reassure the House that should evidence emerge that implies state responsibility, then HM Government will respond appropriately and robustly," Mr Johnson says.

[6 March 2018 12:46 · Lizzie Dearden]

Mr Johnson: "This House has profound differences with Russia...by annexing Crimea in 2014 and igniting the flames of conflict in Eastern Ukraine and threatening Western democracies including by interfering in their elections, Russia has challenged the fundamental basis of international order."

The Foreign Secretary says the UK has responded with "strength and determination", including by expelling diplomats after Mr Litvinenko's death and imposing sanctions over Ukraine.

[6 March 2018 12:49 · Lizzie Dearden]

Foreign Secretary says the sanctions have had a significant effect on the Russian economy and that the UK has "held Russia to account" at the UN for its support for Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

"It is too early to speculate as to the precise nature of the crime or attempted crime that has taken place in Salisbury, but I know members will have their suspicions and what I will say is that if those suspicions prove to be well-founded than this Government will take whatever measures we deem necessary to protect the lives of people in this country, our values and our freedoms.

"Though I am not now pointing fingers, I say to governments around the world that no attempt to take innocent life on UK soil will go either unsanctioned or unpunished."