Theresa May told members of the U. K.’s Parliament today that it was «highly likely» Russia was responsible for poisoning Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England earlier this month.
I would like to update the house on the incident in Seoul screening and the steps we are taking to investigate what happened until responds to this reckless and despicable acts. Last week my vice honorable friends they farm and home secretary is set out the details of events as they unfolded on Sunday the fourth launch. I’m sure the whole house will wants to once a day paid tribute to the bravery and professionalism of our emergency services and armed forces. And responding to this incident. As well as adopters and messes when treating those affected. All schools in particular with detective Sargent nick Bailey who remains in serious but stable condition. In responding to this incident he exemplified the duty and courage that define our emergency services. And in which our whole nation takes the greatest crimes. This is pick my want to pay tribute to the fortitude and calmness with which people pencils pretty have responded to these events. And to thank all those who have come forward to assist the police with their investigation. This incident passed of course of course considerable consent across the community. Following the discovery of traces of nerve agent in CC’s restaurant and the milk up. The chief medical officer issued further precautionary advice but as public health England made clear that the risk to public health is an. This is fake I shed the impatience of this house and the country that marched to bring those responsible to justice. And take the full range of appropriate responses against those who would act against our country in this way. But as a nation that believes in justice and the rule of goal. It is essential that we proceed in the right way. That’s not by speculation. That by the evidence today that is why we have given the police the space and time to carry out investigation properly. Hundreds of officers have been working around the clock. Together with experts not armed forces to sift and assessed only if they put evidence to identify crime scenes a decontamination sites. And to follow every possible beach to find those responsible. That investigation continues and we must allow the police to continue with their work. This morning I chaired a meeting of the National Security Council in which we considered the in the information so far the fatal. As is normal counsel was updated on the assessments and intelligence picture as well as a state investigation. It is not clear that mr. script kind of distorts were poisoned with the military grade Smith agent of a tight developed by Russia. This is part of a group of math agents known as no control. Based on the positive identification of this chemical agent by will be leading experts at the defense science and technology to Barkley exports and down. Our knowledge that Russia has previously produced his agent and would still be capable of doing so. Russia’s record of conducting state sponsored assassinations. And our assessment that Russian fleet be used some detectives as legitimate targets for assassinations. The government has concluded that it is highly likely that Russia was responsible for the accident said today and you Villa script. Mr. speaker this attempted to match using the weapons grades nerve agent and a British town was not just a crime against the script house. It was an indiscriminate and reckless acts against the United Kingdom and putting the lives of innocent civilians at risk. I’m we will not tolerate such a brazen attempt to most innocent civilians on our soil. I commend this statement.
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