British police said on Wednesday that former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, poisoned by a nerve toxin in an attack which Britain has blamed on Moscow, may have been exposed to the substance at the front door of their home.

“Specialists have identified the highest concentration of the nerve agent, to-date, as being on the front door of the address,” a statement by Scotland Yard said.

“At this point in our investigation, we believe the Skripals first came into contact with the nerve agent from their front door,” Dean Haydon, head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, was quoted as saying on the police website.

“We are therefore focusing much of our efforts in and around their address.”

Allegations by London that the attack on 66-year-old Skripal, a former GRU military intelligence officer who betrayed scores of Russian agents to Britain, was the work of Moscow have been denied by Russia.

But the affair has plunged Moscow’s relations with the West to a new post-Cold War low with Western governments, including the United States and Britain expelling scores of Russian diplomats.

Moscow has threatened to take retaliatory action.

Skripal and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia have been in a critical condition since being found unconscious on a public bench in the English city of Salisbury on March 4 and a British judge has said they may have suffered permanent brain damage.</s>The highest concentration of nerve agent found so far was on the Skripals’ front door in Salisbury, and detectives plan to focus their investigation in the surrounding area, London’s Metropolitan Police force said in a statement.

It was the first time police have said where they thought Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia might have been poisoned.

MOSCOW—The Russian ex-spy and his daughter left critically ill in a nerve agent attack three weeks ago were probably poisoned at the front door of their home in southwestern England, British police said Wednesday.

“At this point in our investigation, we believe the Skripals first came in contact with the nerve agent from their front door,” Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon said in the statement.

Police have also searched a variety of sites around Salisbury, including a pub, a restaurant and a cemetery.

Britain has blamed Russia for the attack, triggering the expulsion of about 150 Russian diplomats from the U.K., U.S. and their Western allies. Russia has vowed to respond, but a senior diplomat said Wednesday there is no hurry to retaliate.

Russia vehemently denies Britain’s accusation that it was behind the March 4 attack.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RIA Novosti state news agency that Moscow is “thoughtfully and thoroughly” considering its response. Separately, he was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying the expulsions were directed by London and Washington, adding that other nations succumbed to their pressure. He added that “all options are on the table” regarding Russia’s response.

President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters that Russia’s response “will suit the interests of Russia.”

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with British Prime Minister Theresa May about the co-ordinated effort by Western allies to expel Russian intelligence operatives. The White House said the leaders agreed Wednesday that dismantling Russian spy rings is a priority to “curtail Russian clandestine activities and prevent future chemical weapons attacks on either country’s soil.”

Skripal was imprisoned in Russia after he sold secrets to British intelligence. He was released in a 2010 spy swap and moved to Britain.

Britain says the Skripals were poisoned with a nerve agent developed in Soviet times and that it must have come from Russia. Russian officials complain that Britain hasn’t presented evidence to back up the accusation.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that British special services could have been behind the poisoning. British officials have previously rejected such Russian claims as nonsense.</s>MOSCOW (AP) — The Latest on the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy in Britain (all times local):

British police say they believe a Russian ex-spy and his daughter first came into contact with a military-grade nerve agent at their front door.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon says in a statement Wednesday police are now focusing their investigation in and around Sergei Skripal's home.

London's Metropolitan Police say they have "identified the highest concentration of the nerve agent, to-date, as being on the front door of the address."

The revelation is significant because it's the first time police have offered any suggestion about where the Skripals were poisoned. Police have also searched a variety of sites around Salisbury, including a pub, a restaurant and a cemetery.

Britain blames Russia for the poisoning, triggering a diplomatic dispute between Moscow and Western countries. Moscow vehemently denies any involvement.

President Donald Trump has spoken with British Prime Minister Theresa May about the coordinated effort by Western allies to expel Russian intelligence operatives.

That's according to the White House, which says the leaders agreed Wednesday that dismantling Russian spy rings is a priority to "curtail Russian clandestine activities and prevent future chemical weapons attacks on either country's soil."

More than 150 Russian envoys have been expelled so far. The moves came weeks after Russia allegedly poisoned a former spy and his daughter on British soil with a nerve agent on March 4.

The White House says Trump and May also discussed the recent passage of a law designed to make it easier for U.S. and foreign law enforcement officials to share access to electronic data stored overseas.

Russia's envoy to the top trans-Atlantic security and rights group says the expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy in Britain have set a bad precedent.

Alexander Lukashevich, the Russian envoy at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said the expulsion of more than 150 Russian diplomats by more than 20 nations created "a dangerous precedent of a collective punishment of a nation whose guilt hasn't been proven."

Britain has accused Russia of a nerve agent attack on ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Russia has fiercely rejected the accusations, calling them unfounded.

Lukashevich, speaking in televised remarks Wednesday, dismissed the British claim as a "large-scale provocation."

A senior Russian diplomat says that Moscow is in "no rush" to retaliate to the wave of expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RIA Novosti news agency Wednesday that Russia is "thoughtfully and thoroughly" considering its response to the expulsion of more than 150 Russian diplomats by more than 20 nations in a show of solidarity with Britain.

Britain has accused Russia of a nerve agent attack on ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Russia has fiercely rejected the accusations, calling them baseless.

Ryabkov told Interfax that the expulsions were directed by London and Washington, adding that other nations succumbed to their pressure. He added that "all options are on the table" regarding Russia's response.

Malta has decided to recall its ambassador to Russia over the nerve agent attack on a former spy in Britain.

Initially, Malta held off on recalling Ambassador Carmel Brincat for consultations. A government spokesman said doing so would have effectively terminated diplomatic relations, given the small size of Malta's embassy in Moscow.

But on Wednesday, the foreign ministry announced it was recalling Brincat and was standing "in full solidarity with the United Kingdom in the face of this serious challenge to our common security."

In a statement, the government said it agrees with Britain's assessment that it is "highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible" for the poisoning.

The niece of Sergei Skripal, the Russian ex-spy poisoned in Britain along with his daughter, has said her uncle and cousin have only a slim chance of surviving.

Viktoria Skripal told the BBC: "Out of 99 percent I have maybe 1 percent of hope. Whatever it was has given them a very small chance of survival."

The former spy and his daughter Yulia, who were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury on March 4, remain in critical condition after they were poisoned by a nerve agent. Britain blames Russia for the attack, but Moscow denies responsibility.

Viktoria Skripal also said that her uncle's mother had not been told of the incident. "The first priority was to protect our granny so that she wouldn't hear or find out anything," she said.

Slovakia's foreign minister says the government has decided to recall its ambassador to Moscow for consultations over the nerve agent attack on a former spy in Britain.

But Miroslav Lajcak says after a meeting of the country's Security Council that the government is not yet ready to join two dozen other countries in expelling Russian diplomats over the incident.

Although Lajcak calls Slovakia's move "a serious diplomatic step," the British ambassador to Bratislava, Andrew Garth, is not impressed.

Garth has told the Slovak public television and tweeted that the seriousness of the attack "requires a firm response."

The ambassador adds that "I acknowledge the decision. But cannot say I am not disappointed."

Germany is rejecting suggestions it was premature to expel four Russian diplomats over the attack on an ex-spy in Britain.

Opposition lawmakers have criticized the government for joining other European countries and the United States in ordering the Russian embassy officials to leave the country.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Rainer Breul said Russia had made no effort to cooperative constructively in the British investigation.

Breul said Wednesday there was "no other plausible explanation" than that Russia was behind the attack and expelling four diplomats deemed to have intelligence ties was "measured and appropriate."

Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said "the investigations that have already happened in Great Britain are of a very high standard and the decision by European Union member states was taken after intensive European contacts and intensive explanations by the British government."

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reportedly said his country won't expel Russian diplomats based on "an allegation."

NATO-member Turkey this week condemned the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

The government said however that it had no plans to follow NATO and EU allies in ousting Russian diplomats.

Erdogan reportedly told journalists: "Just because some countries took a step based on an allegation, we don't have to (decide to) take the same step." His comments were published in Hurriyet and other newspapers on Wednesday.

Britain has accused Russia of being behind nerve agent attack on former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. More than 20 nations have expelled over 130 Russian diplomats this week in a show of solidarity.

Turkey has cultivated closer ties with Moscow as its relations with western allies have deteriorated. Ankara and Moscow are also working together to try and end the Syrian conflict.

Montenegro has decided to expel a Russian diplomat from the tiny Adriatic state which joined NATO against Moscow's wishes.

The Montenegro government said Wednesday it has informed the Russian embassy in Podgorica of the measure and gave the unidentified diplomat seven days to leave the country.

With the move, Montenegro, which is not yet an EU member, joined a wave of countries and groups expelling Russian diplomats over the nerve-agent attack on a former spy in Britain.

Montenegro government says it has taken the decision "in coordination with our allies."

A former close Russian ally, Montenegro has accused the Kremlin of being behind an alleged coup attempt in October 2016 because of its NATO bid. Moscow has vehemently denied involvement.

The Russian Foreign Ministry says British special services could have been behind the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.

Britain has accused Russia of a nerve agent attack on former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Russia has fiercely rejected the accusations, calling them baseless.

More than 20 nations have expelled over 130 Russian diplomats this week in a show of solidarity with Britain. Russia denounced the actions as "boorish" and pledged to retaliate.

The Russian Foreign ministry's claim Wednesday of "possible involvement" of British special services in the poisoning marks Moscow's bluntest claim yet of alleged British foul play. British officials have previously rejected such Russian claims as nonsense.

Moscow said the British failure to provide evidence suggests the poisoning was a "major political provocation."

The Kremlin says it will respond soon to the recent expulsions of more than 130 Russian diplomats from Western nations.

Monday's mass expulsions by the United States, European Union nations and some other countries were a show of solidarity for Britain, which blames Russia for poisoning a former Russian intelligence agent in Britain with a military-grade nerve agent. Moscow vehemently denies responsibility.

Asked if Russia is going to react to the expulsions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that Russia's response will follow an that that it will be "timely and will suit the interests of Russia."

Russia is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Wednesday for the victims of a shopping mall fire in Siberia.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>Danica Kirka and Jim Heintz, The Associated Press 

 



LONDON -- The Russian ex-spy and his daughter left critically ill in a nerve agent attack three weeks ago were probably poisoned at the front door of their home in southwestern England, British police said Wednesday.

It was the first time police have said where they thought Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia might have been poisoned.

The highest concentration of nerve agent found so far was on the Skripals' front door in Salisbury, and detectives plan to focus their investigation in the surrounding area, London's Metropolitan Police force said in a statement.

"At this point in our investigation, we believe the Skripals first came in contact with the nerve agent from their front door," Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon said in the statement.

Police have also searched a variety of sites around Salisbury, including a pub, a restaurant and a cemetery.

Britain has blamed Russia for the attack, triggering the expulsion of about 150 Russian diplomats from the U.K., U.S. and their Western allies. Russia has vowed to respond, but a senior diplomat said Wednesday there is no hurry to retaliate.

Russia vehemently denies Britain's accusation that it was behind the March 4 attack.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RIA Novosti state news agency that Moscow is "thoughtfully and thoroughly" considering its response. Separately, he was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying the expulsions were directed by London and Washington, adding that other nations succumbed to their pressure. He added that "all options are on the table" regarding Russia's response.

President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters that Russia's response "will suit the interests of Russia."

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with British Prime Minister Theresa May about the co-ordinated effort by Western allies to expel Russian intelligence operatives. The White House said the leaders agreed Wednesday that dismantling Russian spy rings is a priority to "curtail Russian clandestine activities and prevent future chemical weapons attacks on either country's soil."

Skripal was imprisoned in Russia after he sold secrets to British intelligence. He was released in a 2010 spy swap and moved to Britain.

Britain says the Skripals were poisoned with a nerve agent developed in Soviet times and that it must have come from Russia. Russian officials complain that Britain hasn't presented evidence to back up the accusation.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that British special services could have been behind the poisoning. British officials have previously rejected such Russian claims as nonsense.</s>Skripals were poisoned at their home, police believe

Skripals were poisoned at their home, police believe

Sergei and Yulia Skripal first came into contact with novichok at their home, detectives believe.

Specialists have identified the highest concentration of the nerve agent on their front door.

Detectives will continue to focus their enquiries around the address in Salisbury for the coming weeks - and possibly months - as the investigation continues.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said officers would conduct thorough searches in the areas surrounding the former spy's semi-detached property to gather evidence and as a precautionary measure.

Dean Haydon, the senior national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism policing, said: "At this point in our investigation, we believe the Skripals first came into contact with the nerve agent from their front door.

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"We are therefore focusing much of our efforts in and around their address. Those living in the Skripals' neighbourhood can expect to see officers carrying out searches as part of this but I want to reassure them that the risk remains low."

Image: Sergei Skripal and Yulia Skripal were poisoned

Traces of the nerve agent have been found at some of the other crime scenes that detectives have been examining over the past few weeks, but at lower concentrations.

A dozen policemen, who were not wearing protective overalls, searched an alley beside the victim's house on Wednesday for what is thought to be the first time.

The investigation into who poisoned Mr Skripal, 66, and his daughter, 33, is one of the largest and most complex investigations undertaken by British counter-terrorism police.

The pair were found collapsed on a bench on Sunday 4 March in a critical state.

A Russian law enforcement committee which is running an investigation into the poisoning said it has sent a request to Britain to provide Moscow with legal assistance.

Moscow is seeking "the British colleagues to perform a number of procedural actions aiming at establishing the circumstances of the crime, as well as provide copies of the materials of the criminal investigation".

Russia is asking London to provide it "with the results of the inspection of the place where Yulia Skripal were found unconsciousness as well as with the results of her medical examination".

Meanwhile, New Zealand has said it will not allow entry to Russian diplomats expelled by other countries in response to the nerve agent attack.

About 250 counter-terrorism detectives are working around the clock on the investigation, according to the Met Police.

Salisbury nerve agent bench removed

More than 5,000 hours of CCTV is being examined and more than 1,350 pieces of evidence are being scrutinised.

About 500 witnesses have been identified and hundreds of statements taken.

On Wednesday, the 24th day of the investigation, Mr Haydon thanked the local community "for their continued support and understanding".

Specialist search officers are concluding their work at some of the locations involved in the investigation and turning the areas over to Wiltshire Police.

These areas include the London Road Cemetery, where investigators in hazmat suits were seen early on in the case.

The UK has accused Russia being responsible for the attack, resulting in more than 150 Russian diplomats being expelled from countries across the globe.

Russia rejects the accusation and has challenged the UK to prove the British intelligence services did not conduct the assassination attempt.

The best friend of Mr Skripal told Sky News he believes the poisoned double agent and his daughter are so critically ill they should be allowed to die.</s>British police say they believe a Russian ex-spy and his daughter first came into contact with a military-grade nerve agent at their front door.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon says in a statement Wednesday police are now focusing their investigation in and around Sergei Skripal's home.

London's Metropolitan Police say they have "identified the highest concentration of the nerve agent, to-date, as being on the front door of the address."

The revelation is significant because it's the first time police have offered any suggestion about where the Skripals were poisoned. Police have also searched a variety of sites around Salisbury, including a pub, a restaurant and a cemetery.

Britain blames Russia for the poisoning, triggering a diplomatic dispute between Moscow and Western countries. Moscow vehemently denies any involvement.

President Donald Trump has spoken with British Prime Minister Theresa May about the coordinated effort by Western allies to expel Russian intelligence operatives.

That's according to the White House, which says the leaders agreed Wednesday that dismantling Russian spy rings is a priority to "curtail Russian clandestine activities and prevent future chemical weapons attacks on either country's soil."

More than 150 Russian envoys have been expelled so far. The moves came weeks after Russia allegedly poisoned a former spy and his daughter on British soil with a nerve agent on March 4.

The White House says Trump and May also discussed the recent passage of a law designed to make it easier for U.S. and foreign law enforcement officials to share access to electronic data stored overseas.

Russia's envoy to the top trans-Atlantic security and rights group says the expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy in Britain have set a bad precedent.

Alexander Lukashevich, the Russian envoy at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said the expulsion of more than 150 Russian diplomats by more than 20 nations created "a dangerous precedent of a collective punishment of a nation whose guilt hasn't been proven."

Britain has accused Russia of a nerve agent attack on ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Russia has fiercely rejected the accusations, calling them unfounded.

Lukashevich, speaking in televised remarks Wednesday, dismissed the British claim as a "large-scale provocation."

A senior Russian diplomat says that Moscow is in "no rush" to retaliate to the wave of expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RIA Novosti news agency Wednesday that Russia is "thoughtfully and thoroughly" considering its response to the expulsion of more than 150 Russian diplomats by more than 20 nations in a show of solidarity with Britain.

Britain has accused Russia of a nerve agent attack on ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Russia has fiercely rejected the accusations, calling them baseless.

Ryabkov told Interfax that the expulsions were directed by London and Washington, adding that other nations succumbed to their pressure. He added that "all options are on the table" regarding Russia's response.

Malta has decided to recall its ambassador to Russia over the nerve agent attack on a former spy in Britain.

Initially, Malta held off on recalling Ambassador Carmel Brincat for consultations. A government spokesman said doing so would have effectively terminated diplomatic relations, given the small size of Malta's embassy in Moscow.

But on Wednesday, the foreign ministry announced it was recalling Brincat and was standing "in full solidarity with the United Kingdom in the face of this serious challenge to our common security."

In a statement, the government said it agrees with Britain's assessment that it is "highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible" for the poisoning.

The niece of Sergei Skripal, the Russian ex-spy poisoned in Britain along with his daughter, has said her uncle and cousin have only a slim chance of surviving.

Viktoria Skripal told the BBC: "Out of 99 percent I have maybe 1 percent of hope. Whatever it was has given them a very small chance of survival."

The former spy and his daughter Yulia, who were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury on March 4, remain in critical condition after they were poisoned by a nerve agent. Britain blames Russia for the attack, but Moscow denies responsibility.

Viktoria Skripal also said that her uncle's mother had not been told of the incident. "The first priority was to protect our granny so that she wouldn't hear or find out anything," she said.

Slovakia's foreign minister says the government has decided to recall its ambassador to Moscow for consultations over the nerve agent attack on a former spy in Britain.

But Miroslav Lajcak says after a meeting of the country's Security Council that the government is not yet ready to join two dozen other countries in expelling Russian diplomats over the incident.

Although Lajcak calls Slovakia's move "a serious diplomatic step," the British ambassador to Bratislava, Andrew Garth, is not impressed.

Garth has told the Slovak public television and tweeted that the seriousness of the attack "requires a firm response."

The ambassador adds that "I acknowledge the decision. But cannot say I am not disappointed."

Germany is rejecting suggestions it was premature to expel four Russian diplomats over the attack on an ex-spy in Britain.

Opposition lawmakers have criticized the government for joining other European countries and the United States in ordering the Russian embassy officials to leave the country.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Rainer Breul said Russia had made no effort to cooperative constructively in the British investigation.

Breul said Wednesday there was "no other plausible explanation" than that Russia was behind the attack and expelling four diplomats deemed to have intelligence ties was "measured and appropriate."

Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said "the investigations that have already happened in Great Britain are of a very high standard and the decision by European Union member states was taken after intensive European contacts and intensive explanations by the British government."

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reportedly said his country won't expel Russian diplomats based on "an allegation."

NATO-member Turkey this week condemned the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

The government said however that it had no plans to follow NATO and EU allies in ousting Russian diplomats.

Erdogan reportedly told journalists: "Just because some countries took a step based on an allegation, we don't have to (decide to) take the same step." His comments were published in Hurriyet and other newspapers on Wednesday.

Britain has accused Russia of being behind nerve agent attack on former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. More than 20 nations have expelled over 130 Russian diplomats this week in a show of solidarity.

Turkey has cultivated closer ties with Moscow as its relations with western allies have deteriorated. Ankara and Moscow are also working together to try and end the Syrian conflict.

Montenegro has decided to expel a Russian diplomat from the tiny Adriatic state which joined NATO against Moscow's wishes.

The Montenegro government said Wednesday it has informed the Russian embassy in Podgorica of the measure and gave the unidentified diplomat seven days to leave the country.

With the move, Montenegro, which is not yet an EU member, joined a wave of countries and groups expelling Russian diplomats over the nerve-agent attack on a former spy in Britain.

Montenegro government says it has taken the decision "in coordination with our allies."

A former close Russian ally, Montenegro has accused the Kremlin of being behind an alleged coup attempt in October 2016 because of its NATO bid. Moscow has vehemently denied involvement.

The Russian Foreign Ministry says British special services could have been behind the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.

Britain has accused Russia of a nerve agent attack on former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Russia has fiercely rejected the accusations, calling them baseless.

More than 20 nations have expelled over 130 Russian diplomats this week in a show of solidarity with Britain. Russia denounced the actions as "boorish" and pledged to retaliate.

The Russian Foreign ministry's claim Wednesday of "possible involvement" of British special services in the poisoning marks Moscow's bluntest claim yet of alleged British foul play. British officials have previously rejected such Russian claims as nonsense.

Moscow said the British failure to provide evidence suggests the poisoning was a "major political provocation."

The Kremlin says it will respond soon to the recent expulsions of more than 130 Russian diplomats from Western nations.

Monday's mass expulsions by the United States, European Union nations and some other countries were a show of solidarity for Britain, which blames Russia for poisoning a former Russian intelligence agent in Britain with a military-grade nerve agent. Moscow vehemently denies responsibility.

Asked if Russia is going to react to the expulsions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that Russia's response will follow an that that it will be "timely and will suit the interests of Russia."

Russia is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Wednesday for the victims of a shopping mall fire in Siberia.</s>The niece of poisoned spy Sergei Skripal has said her uncle and cousin have only a slim chance of surviving.

The niece of poisoned spy Sergei Skripal has said her uncle and cousin have only a slim chance of surviving.

Viktoria Skripal said the prognosis for the former Russian double agent and his daughter Yulia "really isn't good", as the pair remain in a critical condition following the Novichok attack in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on March 4.

She also revealed that Mr Skripal's mother had not been told of the incident. She told the BBC: "Out of 99pc I have maybe 1pc of hope. Whatever it was has given them a very small chance of survival. But they're going to be invalids for the rest of their lives."

She added: "The first priority was to protect our granny so that she wouldn't hear or find out anything." Her comments came as countries across the world joined the UK in diplomatic action against Russia, which has been blamed for the attack.

Theresa May hailed the "unprecedented series of expulsions" of Russian diplomats, which she said sent a strong message to Moscow that it could not ignore international law. The Russian Embassy in the UK said the Prime Minister had had still not presented evidence that the country was responsible for the poisonings, adding that "no-one in the wider world would take British words for granted".

It also responded to claims by officials that more than 20 different stories had come out of Moscow since the attack to "try and confuse the picture". A statement posted on its website read: "This only confirms the openness of the Russian society and the independence of Russian media, which Prime Minister May wrongly confuses with the Russian state.

"Let's also not forget that at least five different versions of the poisoning have been 'leaked' by the police to British media: the Skripals were either poisoned in a pub, or in a restaurant, or in their car, or by putting the chemical into Ms Skripal's suitcase, or by smearing their door handle.

"To see Russia being accused of spreading false rumours in this context is rather surprising." On Wednesday, Ireland became the 24th country to join the the UK in diplomatic action against the Kremlin.

With Downing Street saying that more than 115 Russian diplomats had been ordered home by friends and allies, Dublin added one more to the list. In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, hinted that the Kremlin would respond with tit-for-tat expulsions, saying Russia would proceed from the "principle of reciprocity".</s>LONDON (AP) — The Russian ex-spy and his daughter left critically ill in a nerve agent attack three weeks ago were probably poisoned at the front door of their home in southwestern England, British police said Wednesday.

It was the first time police have said where they thought Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia might have been poisoned.

The highest concentration of nerve agent found so far was on the Skripals' front door in Salisbury, and detectives plan to focus their investigation in the surrounding area, London's Metropolitan Police force said in a statement.

"At this point in our investigation, we believe the Skripals first came in contact with the nerve agent from their front door," Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon said in the statement.

Police have also searched a variety of sites around Salisbury, including a pub, a restaurant and a cemetery.

Britain has blamed Russia for the attack, triggering the expulsion of about 150 Russian diplomats from the U.K., U.S. and their Western allies. Russia has vowed to respond, but a senior diplomat said Wednesday there is no hurry to retaliate.

Russia vehemently denies Britain's accusation that it was behind the March 4 attack.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RIA Novosti state news agency that Moscow is "thoughtfully and thoroughly" considering its response. Separately, he was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying the expulsions were directed by London and Washington, adding that other nations succumbed to their pressure. He added that "all options are on the table" regarding Russia's response.

President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters that Russia's response "will suit the interests of Russia."

President Donald Trump spoke with British Prime Minister Theresa May about the coordinated effort by Western allies to expel Russian intelligence operatives. The White House said the leaders agreed Wednesday that dismantling Russian spy rings is a priority to "curtail Russian clandestine activities and prevent future chemical weapons attacks on either country's soil."

Skripal was imprisoned in Russia after he sold secrets to British intelligence. He was released in a 2010 spy swap and moved to Britain.

Britain says the Skripals were poisoned with a nerve agent developed in Soviet times and that it must have come from Russia. Russian officials complain that Britain hasn't presented evidence to back up the accusation.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that British special services could have been behind the poisoning. British officials have previously rejected such Russian claims as nonsense.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>Sign up for one of our email newsletters.

LONDON — The Russian ex-spy and his daughter left critically ill in a nerve agent attack three weeks ago were probably poisoned at the front door of their home in southwestern England, British police said Wednesday.

It was the first time police have said where they thought Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia might have been poisoned.

The highest concentration of nerve agent found so far was on the Skripals' front door in Salisbury, and detectives plan to focus their investigation in the surrounding area, London's Metropolitan Police force said in a statement.

“At this point in our investigation, we believe the Skripals first came in contact with the nerve agent from their front door,” Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon said in the statement.

Police have also searched a variety of sites around Salisbury, including a pub, a restaurant and a cemetery.

Britain has blamed Russia for the attack, triggering the expulsion of about 150 Russian diplomats from the U.K., U.S. and their Western allies. Russia has vowed to respond, but a senior diplomat said Wednesday there is no hurry to retaliate.

Russia vehemently denies Britain's accusation that it was behind the March 4 attack.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RIA Novosti state news agency that Moscow is “thoughtfully and thoroughly” considering its response. Separately, he was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying the expulsions were directed by London and Washington, adding that other nations succumbed to their pressure. He added that “all options are on the table” regarding Russia's response.

President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters that Russia's response “will suit the interests of Russia.”

President Trump spoke with British Prime Minister Theresa May about the coordinated effort by Western allies to expel Russian intelligence operatives. The White House said the leaders agreed Wednesday that dismantling Russian spy rings is a priority to “curtail Russian clandestine activities and prevent future chemical weapons attacks on either country's soil.”

Skripal was imprisoned in Russia after he sold secrets to British intelligence. He was released in a 2010 spy swap and moved to Britain.

Britain says the Skripals were poisoned with a nerve agent developed in Soviet times and that it must have come from Russia. Russian officials complain that Britain hasn't presented evidence to back up the accusation.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that British special services could have been behind the poisoning. British officials have previously rejected such Russian claims as nonsense.</s>LONDON — The Russian ex-spy and his daughter left critically ill in a nerve agent attack three weeks ago were probably poisoned at the front door of their home in southwestern England, British police said Wednesday.

It was the first time police have said where they thought Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia might have been poisoned.

The highest concentration of nerve agent found so far was on the Skripals’ front door in Salisbury, and detectives plan to focus their investigation in the surrounding area, London’s Metropolitan Police force said in a statement.

“At this point in our investigation, we believe the Skripals first came in contact with the nerve agent from their front door,” Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon said in the statement.

Police have also searched a variety of sites around Salisbury, including a pub, a restaurant and a cemetery.

Britain has blamed Russia for the attack, triggering the expulsion of about 150 Russian diplomats from the U.K., U.S. and their Western allies. Russia has vowed to respond, but a senior diplomat said Wednesday there is no hurry to retaliate.

Russia vehemently denies Britain’s accusation that it was behind the March 4 attack.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RIA Novosti state news agency that Moscow is “thoughtfully and thoroughly” considering its response. Separately, he was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying the expulsions were directed by London and Washington, adding that other nations succumbed to their pressure. He added that “all options are on the table” regarding Russia’s response.

President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters that Russia’s response “will suit the interests of Russia.”

President Donald Trump spoke with British Prime Minister Theresa May about the coordinated effort by Western allies to expel Russian intelligence operatives. The White House said the leaders agreed Wednesday that dismantling Russian spy rings is a priority to “curtail Russian clandestine activities and prevent future chemical weapons attacks on either country’s soil.”

Skripal was imprisoned in Russia after he sold secrets to British intelligence. He was released in a 2010 spy swap and moved to Britain.

Britain says the Skripals were poisoned with a nerve agent developed in Soviet times and that it must have come from Russia. Russian officials complain that Britain hasn’t presented evidence to back up the accusation.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that British special services could have been behind the poisoning. British officials have previously rejected such Russian claims as nonsense.
Police investigating the attack say they believe the Skripals were poisoned at Sergei Skripal's home.