Critically ill man 'former Russian spy'
Source: BBC
A man who is critically ill after being exposed to an unknown substance in Wiltshire is a Russian national convicted of spying for Britain, the BBC understands.
Sergei Skripal, who is 66, was granted refuge in the UK following a "spy swap" between the US and Russia in 2010.
Police declared a major incident on Sunday after a man and a woman were reported ill in a shopping centre in Salisbury.
The substance is still unknown.
A number of locations in the city centre were cordoned off and the A&E department was closed.
Skripal, who is a retired Russian military intelligence colonel, was jailed for 13 years in 2006 for spying for Britain.
He was convicted of passing the identities of Russian intelligence agents working undercover in Europe to the UK's Secret Intelligence Service, MI6.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43295134
Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43295134
dhol82
(9,351 posts)Or maybe a whiff of Sarin?
Loki Liesmith
(4,602 posts)dhol82
(9,351 posts)Loki Liesmith
(4,602 posts)redstatebluegirl
(12,264 posts)Zoonart
(11,747 posts)Chris Steele? Was he a Steele asset?
Cracklin Charlie
(12,904 posts)Something off?
unblock
(51,973 posts)Cracklin Charlie
(12,904 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(48,773 posts)Farmer-Rick
(10,071 posts)kimbutgar
(20,871 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,146 posts)It was thought that fentanyl, a synthetic opiate many times stronger than heroin, may have been involved.
...
A Public Health England spokesman said there did not appear to be any further immediate risk to public health.
Fentanyl is an opioid drug that can be used as anaesthetic with other drugs - during operations. A very small dose of the drug can be fatal.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/mar/05/salisbury-hospital-police-fire-crews-attend-major-incident
Another Putin hit?
dhol82
(9,351 posts)Questions, questions, questions.
LisaL
(44,962 posts)regular overdose.
RealityChik
(382 posts)Guess we'll have to wait for more details. Wouldn't be hard for someone to dump a lethal dose into a beverage.
LisaL
(44,962 posts)I really doubt they would have to decontaminate the street for fentanyl in tea.
watoos
(7,142 posts)if you get my drift.