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Spy poisoning: Russian diplomats prepare to leave UK Spy poisoning: Russian diplomats prepare to leave UK
(35 minutes later)
Russian diplomats and their families are preparing to leave the UK after being expelled over the Salisbury spy attack.Russian diplomats and their families are preparing to leave the UK after being expelled over the Salisbury spy attack.
Removal vans and diplomatic cars have been arriving at the embassy in London. Removal vans and diplomatic cars have been leaving the embassy in London.
The UK expelled 23 diplomats after Prime Minister Theresa May said Russia was "culpable" for the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter.The UK expelled 23 diplomats after Prime Minister Theresa May said Russia was "culpable" for the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter.
Later on Tuesday, the Government will decide whether to impose further sanctions on Russia.Later on Tuesday, the Government will decide whether to impose further sanctions on Russia.
Mrs May will chair a meeting of the National Security Council.Mrs May will chair a meeting of the National Security Council.
Moscow has denied all involvement, and is expelling 23 British diplomats in response.Moscow has denied all involvement, and is expelling 23 British diplomats in response.
According to the BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins, the Russian Embassy said around 80 people - including Russian diplomats and their families - will leave London today. It is also closing down both the British Council in Russia, which promotes cultural ties between the nations, and the consulate in St Petersburg.
It comes as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the UK must still deal with Russia despite "all fingers" pointing to it over the Salisbury spy attack. The Russian Embassy said around 80 people - including Russian diplomats and their families - will leave London today.
He said he would "do business" with Vladimir Putin but assertively and on the basis of the UK's values. A small crowd gathered outside the embassy and waved goodbye to people carrying suitcases, children and pets as they boarded vehicles.
Former Russian military intelligence officer Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, remain critically ill in hospital after being found slumped on a bench on 4 March. They had been exposed to a nerve agent. The BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said launching a second round of measures "risks an endless tit for tat with the Kremlin".
Meanwhile, the head of counter-terrorism policing in the UK, Met Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, said the focus of the Salisbury investigation is "on the movements of the Skripals". But "not to do so risks accusations of weakness from some quarters," he added.
Russian former military intelligence officer Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, remain critically ill in hospital after being found slumped on a bench and unconscious on 4 March.
They had been exposed to a nerve agent of a type developed by Russia called Novichok, the UK Government claims.
More than two weeks on from the attack, the head of counter-terrorism policing in the UK, Met Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, said the focus of the Salisbury investigation is "on the movements of the Skripals".
Officers are trawling through 4,000 hours of CCTV footage and have already taken 400 statements with more to come.
"It is going to take weeks, possibly months," Mr Basu told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, adding: "This is going to be frustrating for people."
Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the UK must still deal with Russia despite "all fingers" pointing to it over the Salisbury spy attack.
He said he would "do business" with Russian President Vladimir Putin but assertively and on the basis of the UK's values.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson previously said it is "overwhelmingly likely" that President Putin ordered the nerve agent attack. Russia said the accusations were "shocking and unforgivable".