Tag: russian spy

Kremlin furious as Britain blames Putin for ex-spy attack

by Anna SMOLCHENKO with Alice RITCHIE in London Agence France-Presse MOSCOW, Russia – Britain on Friday provoked Russia’s wrath by directly implicating Vladimir Putin in the nerve agent attack on an ex-double agent, with the Kremlin saying the claims were “shocking and unforgivable.” The war of words between Moscow and London over the poisoning of a former Russian spy escalated as Britain’s outspoken Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said his government’s “quarrel” was with Putin rather […]

Russia warns of reprisals if UK acts over spy attack

by James PHEBY with Anna SMOLCHENKO in Moscow / Alice RITCHIE with Anna Smolchenko in Moscow Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom – Russia warned Britain on Tuesday to expect reprisals if it announces sanctions over the poisoning of a former double agent, as the US and other allies joined London in demanding answers on how a Soviet-designed nerve agent was used in the attack. British Prime Minister Theresa May says Russia was “highly likely” to be behind […]

NATO chief expresses ‘great concern’ over Russian spy attack

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday said the alliance was deeply concerned about the attack on a Russian former double agent in Britain and was in contact with UK authorities about the matter. “The UK is a highly valued ally, and this incident is of great concern to NATO. NATO is in touch with the UK authorities on this issue,” Stoltenberg said in a statement issued by his office. Stoltenberg […]

British PM says ‘highly likely’ Russia behind spy attack

by Alice RITCHIE Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May said Monday it was highly likely that Russia was responsible for a “reckless and despicable” attack on a former double agent in Britain, an accusation rejected by Moscow as a “provocation”. In a dramatic escalation of diplomatic tensions over the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter on March 4, May said the nerve agent that poisoned them was […]

UK police confirm Russian ex-spy and daughter hit by nerve agent

by Alice Ritchie Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The Russian former double-agent who collapsed in a British town alongside his daughter was targeted with a nerve agent, while a responding policeman has also been hospitalized, police said Wednesday. “This is being treated as a major incident involving attempted murder by administration of a nerve agent,” Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Mark Rowley told reporters. Scientific tests by government experts have identified the specific […]

UK, Russia spar over Russian ex-spy’s suspected poisoning

by Jitendra JOSHI with Alice RITCHIE in London Agence France-Presse SALISBURY, United Kingdom – Britain warned Tuesday it would respond “robustly” if it emerged that a government was behind the suspected poisoning of a former Russian double agent found unconscious on a street bench in England, prompting a swift rebuke from Russia. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Britain would “take whatever measures we deem necessary” and even appeared to suggest England could pull out of the 2018 football […]