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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Spy poisoning: Russian diplomats leave UK | Spy poisoning: Russian diplomats leave UK |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Russian diplomats and their families have left the UK in an expulsion following the Salisbury spy attack. | |
| Diplomatic vehicles drove them from the embassy in London to Stansted Airport, where they boarded a plane to Moscow. | Diplomatic vehicles drove them from the embassy in London to Stansted Airport, where they boarded a plane to Moscow. |
| 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. |
| The government decided on Tuesday not to impose further sanctions on Russia for now. | The government decided on Tuesday not to impose further sanctions on Russia for now. |
| However, at a meeting of the National Security Council, Mrs May said: "There are other measures that government and security officials are actively considering and stand ready to deploy at any time." | However, at a meeting of the National Security Council, Mrs May said: "There are other measures that government and security officials are actively considering and stand ready to deploy at any time." |
| Strict checks by border officials on private flights have been introduced as the UK increases efforts to monitor and track those entering the country, Mrs May's spokesman added. | Strict checks by border officials on private flights have been introduced as the UK increases efforts to monitor and track those entering the country, Mrs May's spokesman added. |
| Moscow has denied all involvement, and is expelling 23 British diplomats in response. The UK diplomats have until Saturday to leave Russia. | Moscow has denied all involvement, and is expelling 23 British diplomats in response. The UK diplomats have until Saturday to leave Russia. |
| The Kremlin is also closing down both the British Council in Russia, which promotes cultural ties between the nations, and the consulate in St Petersburg. | The Kremlin is also closing down both the British Council in Russia, which promotes cultural ties between the nations, and the consulate in St Petersburg. |
| The Russian foreign ministry, meanwhile, has invited all foreign ambassadors in Moscow to a meeting on Wednesday to clarify the Russian position on the Skripal affair, the Russian news agency Interfax has reported. | The Russian foreign ministry, meanwhile, has invited all foreign ambassadors in Moscow to a meeting on Wednesday to clarify the Russian position on the Skripal affair, the Russian news agency Interfax has reported. |
| The Russian Embassy in London said around 80 people - including the Russian intelligence officers and their families - were due to leave the UK on Tuesday, the deadline given by Mrs May. | The Russian Embassy in London said around 80 people - including the Russian intelligence officers and their families - were due to leave the UK on Tuesday, the deadline given by Mrs May. |
| A small crowd gathered outside the embassy and waved goodbye to people carrying suitcases, children and pets as they boarded vehicles. | A small crowd gathered outside the embassy and waved goodbye to people carrying suitcases, children and pets as they boarded vehicles. |
| Russian ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko tweeted: "Today we bid farewell to our colleagues heading home after the hostile move of the UK Government, and wish them all the best in their careers." | Russian ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko tweeted: "Today we bid farewell to our colleagues heading home after the hostile move of the UK Government, and wish them all the best in their careers." |
| The BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said launching further measures "risks an endless tit for tat with the Kremlin". | The BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said launching further measures "risks an endless tit for tat with the Kremlin". |
| But "not to do so risks accusations of weakness from some quarters," he added. | But "not to do so risks accusations of weakness from some quarters," he added. |
| Police appeal | Police appeal |
| Meanwhile, drivers or cyclists who captured video footage near the home of a murdered Russian businessman Nikolai Glushkov on 11 March or 12 March are being asked to contact police. | Meanwhile, drivers or cyclists who captured video footage near the home of a murdered Russian businessman Nikolai Glushkov on 11 March or 12 March are being asked to contact police. |
| Mr Glushkov was found dead from apparent "compression to his neck" at his home in New Malden, south-west London last week. | Mr Glushkov was found dead from apparent "compression to his neck" at his home in New Malden, south-west London last week. |
| 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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." | "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, following a phone call between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Mrs May, Downing Street said Japan condemned the Salisbury attack and "shared our outrage". | Meanwhile, following a phone call between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Mrs May, Downing Street said Japan condemned the Salisbury attack and "shared our outrage". |
| The leaders of France, Germany and the US have already pledged support for the UK in a joint statement and the EU offered its "unqualified solidarity". | The leaders of France, Germany and the US have already pledged support for the UK in a joint statement and the EU offered its "unqualified solidarity". |
| EU leaders will meet at a summit in Brussels on Thursday to discuss any potential response to Russia. | EU leaders will meet at a summit in Brussels on Thursday to discuss any potential response to Russia. |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the UK must still deal with Russia despite "all fingers" pointing to it over the Salisbury spy attack. | 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. | 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". | 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". |
| Mr Skripal, a retired military intelligence colonel, came to the UK in 2010 after being released from prison in Russia. | Mr Skripal, a retired military intelligence colonel, came to the UK in 2010 after being released from prison in Russia. |
| He had been jailed in Moscow in 2006 for spying for Britain and passing the identities of Russian secret agents in Europe to MI6, the UK's Secret Intelligence Service. | He had been jailed in Moscow in 2006 for spying for Britain and passing the identities of Russian secret agents in Europe to MI6, the UK's Secret Intelligence Service. |
| His daughter, Yulia, flew into the UK from Russia on 3 March, the day before she and Mr Skripal were found on a bench near The Maltings shopping centre in Salisbury, Wiltshire. | His daughter, Yulia, flew into the UK from Russia on 3 March, the day before she and Mr Skripal were found on a bench near The Maltings shopping centre in Salisbury, Wiltshire. |