Salisbury attack: Chemical weapons watchdog backtracks on '100g of novichok' claim

Head of OPCW previously stated he believed large quantities found at scene suggest toxin intended for use as weapon

The international chemical weapons watchdog has backtracked on a suggestion that as much as 100 grams of nerve agent may have been used in the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

Ahmet Uzumcu, director general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), had said the relatively large quantities of novichok used suggested it had been created as a weapon rather than for research purposes.

But a new OPCW statement said the organisation was not able to “estimate or determine the amount of the nerve agent that was used” in the incident.

The spokesman added however: “The quantity should probably be characterised in milligrams.”

The Skripals were left fighting for their lives after being exposed to a liquid form of the chemical in the Wiltshire city of Salisbury in March. Both are now recovering from the attack.

Mr Uzumcu had said samples collected suggested the nerve agent used to poison the Skripals was of “high purity”.

He said: “For research activities or protection you would need, for instance, five to 10 grams or so, but even in Salisbury it looks like they may have used more than that.

“Without knowing the exact quantity, I am told it may be 50, 100 grams or so, which goes beyond research activities for protection.

“It’s not affected by weather conditions. That explains, actually, that they were able to identify it after a considerable time lapse.”

It came as Czech President Milos Zeman said his country had produced small quantities of novichok.

Britain has argued the use of Novichok – which was developed by the former Soviet Union in the 1980s – meant there was no “plausible alternative” explanation other than the Russian state was behind the attack.

However Mr Zeman’s comments were seized on by President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who said they were a “clear illustration of the groundless stance the British authorities have taken”.

The Czech president is known for pro-Russia views, although his country joined other nations in expelling Russian diplomats in retaliation to the poisoning.

Britain’s claim that Russia carried out an attempted assassination of Mr Skripal has been routinely denied by Moscow.

The Russian ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko, has previously suggested the Skripals were injected by British authorities with a nerve agent produced at the government’s Porton Down laboratory.

Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, has also claimed the agent used in the attack was in fact a toxin possessed by the UK and US.

The OPCW’s independent report on samples of the substance collected from the scene did not refer to novichok by name.

It did however say its scientists had “confirmed the findings of the United Kingdom relating to the identity of the toxic chemical”.

The affair has exacerbated the already strained relations between Russia and the West, leading to the expulsion of dozens of diplomats by both sides.

Karen Pierce, the UK’s representative to the United Nations, told a meeting last month there was “no plausible alternative explanation than Russian state responsibility for what happened in Salisbury”.

“Russia has a proven record of conducting state-sponsored assassinations including on the territory of the United Kingdom,” she said.

“The independent inquiry into the death of Alexander Litvinenko concluded in January 2016 that he was deliberately poisoned with polonium, that the FSB had directed the operation and that President Putin probably approved it.”

Meanwhile, government scientists have warned potentially toxic levels of the nerve agent may still be present in “hot spots” around Salisbury.

Residents of the city have criticised authorities for the slow pace at which safety information has been provided, accusing certain bodies of sending “mixed messages” as to potential risks.

Wiltshire Council said new barriers set up around The Maltings shopping centre, The Mill pub, Zizzi restaurant and Riverside House are expected to be in place for several months while a multi-million pound cleanup operation takes place.

It said the task would be carried out by 200 specialist military personnel, and insisted all areas outside the cordons were safe.

Additional reporting by PA