Markov/Litvinenko 2.0

Cliff

It was reported this morning that the poisoning may not have taken place in the restaurant. May have been administered earlier. The press has joined up quite a few dots.
The second interesting point is the Police officer who was first to attend was not an ordinary, on the beat, just passing by, officer.  More facts to come I am sure.

EarthRod

I notice the government is being cagey about blaming Russia for the poisoning, not even the slightest blame is heading their way. Senior Westminster politicians are saying we must let the police carry out their investigations.

...Which is fair enough, the government's vagueness is understandable.

It seems that in the world of espionage 'things' do happen and deaths and assassinations of former spies and dissidents happen occasionally - been going on for many many years and not a lot can be done to stop it.

Trollslayer

The gap they are carefully leaving says it all.

tapzilla2k

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43326734

If this is Russia, then it's not brazen or reckless. Putin simply doesn't care about any response from the UK.  

It might turn out to be one of those rumoured Soviet Nerve Agents designed to overcome standard detection methods. All Nerve Agents have a chemical signature that can tie it to a specific country and place of manufacture, however it can be difficult to get that chemical signature if the samples aren't good enough.

Unless Putin clearly gives no squirrels, it'll be anthrax in the post next.

Well Russians do have a lot of money invested in the UK, not something they'd want to upset. It'll be mighty embarrassing for the Government if the Police discover the person or persons who carried out the assassination attempt got in and out of the UK easily without using the old diplomatic wheeze to sail through customs.

You need to be pretty sure of where the Nerve Agent has come from. If it is Russia then they've broken the treaty on chemical and biological warfare. So I'd expect the Government to be cagey. On the other hand they might not want to get into diplomatic spat with Russia just yet.

Or the tinfoil hat people will say it was an inside job with Russia framed for the crime.

Most of the assassination's are likely more subtle deaths that can be ruled as suicides or hushed up through bribery etc. Using a Nerve Agent points towards a state that wants to show it's power off and has no fear of the consequences. Which given past high profile assassinations in the UK, points to Russia. If it is Russia, then given there is a Presidential election soon, Putin is sending a message to those who oppose him.

Toko Black

To me, going off the assumption that this is definitely a nerve agent,  the way this was planned out seems incredibly deliberate in the choice of target, mechanism and response.

What better way to send a message of "we did it, you know we did it, we know you know we did it and yet there's nothing you can prove 100% legally and what exactly are you going to do about it anyway" - than to use a substance that is difficult to manufacture, obtain and pretty much restricted to government/military run specialist labs.
There are so many other poisons and toxic substances that are highly effective and some that have no antidote such as the likes of ricin, but they chose a nerve agent.

It's less of a simple attempt at murder and more an act of terrorism.

Trollslayer

I don't often agree with you but in this case it is too specific - in target and method.

Sonic67

LIVE: Spy poisoning - Hundreds told to wash their possessions

""Chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies says up to 500 people who have visited pubs and restaurants in Salisbury should wash their possessions as a precaution after traces of the nerve agent used to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found.

She said: "We have now learned there has been some trace contamination by the nerve agent in both the Mill Pub and Zizzi restaurant in Salisbury. "I am confident this has not harmed the health of anyone who was in the Mill pub or Zizzi's.

"However, some people are concerned long term exposure to these substances may over weeks, and particularly months, give rise to health problems.

"I am therefore advising as a belt and braces approach the people who were in either the restaurant or the pub at 1:30pm last Sunday until evening closing on Monday should clean the clothes they wore and the possessions they handled while there.""

Instead of Ariel powder, add two capfuls of Fuller's Earth into the washing machine's drawer and turn the control to the 'Blot, Bang, Rub' setting.

Sonic67

'If it happens a third time,' that'll be it, says Russian dissident poisoned twice by Kremlin

“The doctors say, if there is a third time, that’ll be it. I will not survive this again,” says Vladimir Kara-Murza matter of factly. It’s six weeks since the second attempt on his life, via a highly sophisticated poison attack, ended in unlikely failure.

He is now back in his home of Washington, but already he is recuperating, planning his return to Russia to carry on his work as a leading figure in what he calls the ‘democratic opposition’ to the Putin regime – a course of action I describe as brave.

Sonic67

As a result of the CBRN attack:

John McDonnell urges Labour MPs to stop appearing on Russia Today - Don't go on Russia Today, Labour tells MPs

John McDonnell says he won't appear on Russia Today - Russia Today have crossed line - McDonnell

Corbyn says nope.

Jeremy Corbyn rejects John McDonnell suggestion Labour should boycott Russia Today

"The move is embarrassing for Mr Corbyn, who in 2011 told a Twitter user: "Try Russia Today. Free of Royal Wedding and more objective on Libya than most.""

Trollslayer

Why do I keep seeing Corbyn as a Muppet character?