Two alleged Russian spies who launched the Salisbury attack smuggled novichok into the UK through Gatwick Airport, the security minister has confirmed. Ben Wallace told the House of Commons there was “clearly some form of attempt to create a legend to make sure that they circumvented our checks”. “No doubt at the other end of that aeroplane journey [in Russia] there was some, I should think, the baggage checks weren't probably as good as they might be,” he added. “[The novichok], we believe, in a counterfeit Nina Ricci perfume bottle. That bottle was then recklessly discarded on the streets of Salisbury, and had the potential to kill or injure hundreds and hundreds of people.” Prosecutors have charged two Russian men using the suspected aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov with attempting to assassinate Sergei Skripal in a “reckless” poisoning that later caused the death of Dawn Sturgess. They flew into Gatwick Airport from Moscow on 2 March, using legitimate business visas and genuine government-issued Russian passports. Mr Wallace said there was no health risk to their fellow air passengers or those who travelled on the public transport they used to travel around London and onwards to Salisbury. “When a hostile state is determined to try and use its full resources to penetrate another state the challenge is much greater,” he added. Vladimir Putin has called on the two suspects to appear in Russian media and claimed they are 'civilians' (Metropolitan Police) “The logistical support of that state in assisting its agents is significant and that means for example that these two individuals travelled on a genuine Russian passport, making it harder to spot.” The British government has said the two suspects were members of the GRU military intelligence agency, where Mr Skripal served as a colonel before passing secrets to MI6 that unmasked undercover Russian spies in Europe. The poisoning led to a wave of diplomatic expulsions in the UK and by its allies, and retaliation by Russia as its government denied any involvement in the attack. Asked whether there would be any further expulsions during a parliamentary debate on the Salisbury incident, Mr Wallace said: “We will keep all options on the table. "For now we are working on a number of measures to push back Russia's activities and do our best to degrade their intelligence services." Vladimir Putin claimed there was “nothing criminal” about the two named suspects on Wednesday and claimed they were “civilians”. In an address to the Easter Economic Forum in Vladivostok, he said: “Of course, we looked who these people are. We know who they are, we have found them already.” He added: “There is nothing special and nothing criminal about it, I’m telling you.” Mr Putin called on Petrov and Boshirov to appear in public to “tell all about themselves” and Russian state media suggested interviews would appear next week. Dawn Sturgess, a mother-of-three, died in hospital days after being poisoned with novichok (Metropolitan Police) Mr Wallace said requests for Russia to account for what happened in Salisbury had been met with “obfuscation and lies”, saying their response merely “reinforces their guilt”. Sajid Javid has vowed that Britain and its allies will catch the pair if they ever leave Russia again, but admitted the scenario is unlikely. “If they ever step out of the Russian Federation, Britain and its allies will get them and we will bring them to prosecution,” the home secretary said on Saturday, claiming the GRU was “getting its instruction directly from the highest level of the Russian government”.European Arrest Warrants and Interpol red notices have been issued for the men, who fled back to Moscow on the day they allegedly poisoned Mr Skripal. Mr Javid admitted that “we will probably never see them in the UK”, adding: “The Russians will probably never let them leave the Russian Federation.” Flight records showed the suspects have travelled extensively around Europe from when the passports were issued in September 2016, to locations including Geneva, Paris, Amsterdam and Milan. Investigators caught the pair on CCTV near Mr Skripal’s house at the time when novichok was spread on his front door, causing him and his daughter to fall critically ill hours later. They are believed to have used the same counterfeit perfume bottle that later poisoned Charlie Rowley and killed Ms Sturgess. Police found traces of novichok in the London hotel room used by the two suspects before they left Britain on a Moscow-bound flight on the evening of 4 March. Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack Show all 19 1 /19 Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack CCTV – Salisbury train station The two suspects charged in relation to the attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal at Salisbury train station at 16:11hrs on 03 March 2018 Metropolitan Police Police release images of suspects in connection with Salisbury attack Suspects Suspects Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov, Russian nationals, approximately 40 years old, who travelled on a Russian passport.<doc-sep>London (CNN) A counterfeit perfume bottle, a basic east London hotel and two burly Russians likely traveling under aliases: just some of the unprecedented details revealed by British authorities Wednesday of how they believe the Novichok poisonings in Salisbury were carried out. The revelations came as British prosecutors said they had "sufficient evidence" to charge two Russian nationals in connection with the nerve agent attack in the southern English city on March 4 on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Skripal. The two suspects were named by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, neither of whom is in the United Kingdom. "Prosecutors from CPS Counter Terrorism Division have considered the evidence and have concluded there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and it is clearly in the public interest to charge Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov ... with conspiracy to murder Sergei Skripal and the attempted murder of Skripal, his daughter Yulia, and police officer Nick Bailey," a CPS statement said. The pair are also charged with the use and possession of the nerve agent Novichok contrary to the Chemical Weapons Act and causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Yulia Skripal and Nick Bailey. The two Russian nationals are believed to have been traveling under aliases, although they had genuine Russian passports with the identities of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, the CPS said in a briefing. UK Prime Minister Theresa May told lawmakers that Britain believes the two suspects to be officers of the Russian military intelligence service, known as the GRU. "The GRU is a highly disciplined organization with a well-established chain of command, so this was not a rogue operation, it was almost certainly also approved outside the GRU at a senior level of the Russian state," she said in a statement to the House of Commons. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed the latest claims. "A link with Russia is being alleged. The names published in the media, like the photos, do not tell us anything," she said. She called on the British authorities "to move from public accusations and information manipulation to practical cooperation through law enforcement agencies" and repeated Russia's demand that they answer Moscow's queries about the case. "The investigation of such serious crimes -- which the UK side has repeatedly alleged -- requires the most careful work, scrupulous analysis of data and close cooperation," she said. The CPS said it was not applying to Russia for the extradition of the two men as the Russian constitution does not permit extradition of its own nationals. However, prosecutors have obtained a European Arrest Warrant and the police are seeking to circulate Interpol Red Notices. "Should either of these individuals ever again travel outside Russia, we will take every possible step to detain them, to extradite them and to bring them to face justice here in the United Kingdom," May told lawmakers. She described the Novichok attack as "part of a wider pattern of Russian behavior that persistently seeks to undermine our security and that of our allies around the world" and said the UK would "deploy the full range of tools from across our national security apparatus" to counter Russian military intelligence activities. May spoke to US President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening ahead of the announcement of the names of Russian suspects and their links to military intelligence, 10 Downing Street told CNN. The UN Security Council will meet Thursday to discuss the Salisbury developments, UK ambassador to the United Nations Karen Pierce said. A previous council meeting on the nerve agent attack featured heated exchanges between the Russian and UK envoys. Hotel room 'deemed safe' New details from the police and prosecutors revealed that traces of Novichok were found in the hotel room where the two men spent two nights in March, the City Stay Hotel in Bow Road, east London. JUST WATCHED What is Novichok and how does it kill? Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH What is Novichok and how does it kill? 01:34 Tests were carried out on May 4 on that room, said Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, National Lead for Counter Terrorism Policing, and it was "deemed safe." There had been no reports to date of people falling ill between March and May after staying in the room, he added. "The levels of Novichok we found in the room at the time of police sampling in May were such that they were not enough to cause short or long-term health effects to anyone exposed to it, at that point or thereafter," he said. Online reviews of the hotel give a mixed picture, with several reviewers faulting the cleanliness of the rooms while acknowledging it was competitively priced for the UK capital. A statement issued Wednesday by the City Stay Hotel said it was open for business as usual. "We are fully supporting the police investigation. We are reassured that the police and Public Health England have confirmed very clearly that there is no health risk whatsoever to our guests or our staff," it said. Basu told reporters that the March 4 poisoning of the Skripals had now been formally linked by UK investigators to the June 30 poisoning of Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley, a couple living in Amesbury, near Salisbury. Sturgess died on July 8 as a result of her exposure to Novichok. "It now forms one investigation," he said. "We do not believe Dawn and Charlie were deliberately targeted, but became victims as a result of the recklessness in which such a toxic nerve agent was disposed of. "We know that Novichok was applied to the Skripals' front door in an area that is accessible to the public, which also endangered the lives of members of the public and emergency service responders." Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, at a restaurant in Salisbury, UK. Fake perfume Rowley had told police that he found a box he thought contained perfume in a charity bin, Basu said. "Inside the box was a bottle and applicator," Basu said.<doc-sep>The two suspects named by the UK as being behind the Novichok poisonings have been found in Russia. President Vladimir Putin said there was ‘nothing criminal’ even though the pair were spotted on CCTV near the home of double agent Sergei Skripal on the day he was poisoned. Last week, the UK authorities named the men as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, members of Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU. Alexander Petrov (left) and Ruslan Boshirov have been found in Russia (Picture: PA) Putin said they were civilians who did not work for the military. He added they would contact the media and tell their story soon. ‘We know who they are, we have found them,’ Mr Putin said in the far eastern city of Vladivostok. ‘I hope they will turn up themselves and tell everything. This would be best for everyone. ‘There is nothing special there, nothing criminal, I assure you. We’ll see in the near future,’ he added. Mr Skripal and daughter Yulia were poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok in the city of Salisbury on March 4th. The pair were seen close to the home of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal on the day he was poisoned with Novichok (Picture: PA) Russian President Vladimir Putin today said there is nothing criminal about the behaviour of the poisoning suspects (Picture: Reuters) Police officer Nick Bailey was also admitted to intensive care after becoming contaminated when he visited the Skripal’s house. Three months later Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley were admitted to hospital after being contaminated with a discarded perfume bottle, used to carry the poison. Ms Sturgess died while Mr Rowley remains in hospital fighting meningitis after his body was severely weakened by exposure to the military grade poison. After the poisoning, Britain and more than two dozen other countries expelled a total of 150 Russian spies working under diplomatic cover. Russia retaliated by kicking out a similar number of those countries’ envoys. Yulia Skripal and her father Sergei spent weeks in a critical condition in hospital after poison was spread on their front door (Picture: Rex) Prime Minister Theresa May said intelligence showed the poisonings were state-sponsored by Russia. In a statement that deepened the diplomatic crisis between the two countries, the Prime Minister said: ‘The GRU is a highly disciplined organisation with a well-established chain of command. So this was not a rogue operation. ‘It was almost certainly also approved outside the GRU at a senior level of the Russian state.’ Petrov and Boshirov flew into Gatwick Airport on an Aeroflot flight from Moscow on March 2nd. Dawn Sturgess died after being exposed to Novichok hidden in a perfume bottle (Picture: PA) Charlie Rowley is now back in hospital after his body was badly weakened by exposure to Novichok (Picture: ITV) They were described as being about 40 years old and believed to be travelling under fake names. They did a reconnaissance mission to Salisbury the following day before returning with poison concealed in a fake Nina Ricci perfume bottle. On March 4th, Novichok was placed on the front door of the Skripal house. The Russian suspects flew home later that day and haven’t returned. The Skripals spent weeks in hospital in a critical condition after the poisoning. In July, Mr Rowley came across the poison, which had been concealed inside a perfume bottle and left in a charity bin. His partner Ms Sturgess used some on her skin and died in hospital days later. Prosecutors deem it futile to apply to Russia for the extradition of the two men but a European Arrest Warrant has been obtained and the authorities are also seeking the assistance of Interpol. Got a story for Metro.co.uk? If you have a story for our news team, email us at webnews@metro.co.uk. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.<doc-sep>Vladimir Putin says Russia has identified the two men Britain named as suspects in the poisoning of a former Russian spy and there is "nothing criminal" about them. Key points: Mr Putin insisted the suspects are civilians Mr Putin insisted the suspects are civilians He called on the men to "go to a media outlet" to "tell about themselves" He called on the men to "go to a media outlet" to "tell about themselves" Russia's UN ambassador accused Britain of attempting "to unleash a disgusting anti-Russian hysteria" Sergei Skripal, a former colonel in Russia's GRU military intelligence service, and his 33-year-old daughter, Yulia, were found slumped unconscious on a bench in Salisbury in March after a liquid form of the nerve agent Novichok was applied to his home's front door. The pair survived, and British authorities last week issued a European arrest warrant for Russian nationals Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov over attack. At the time, British Prime Minister said intelligence indicated the men were officers in the GRU, and the attack would have been approved "at a senior level of the Russian state". Moscow has vehemently denied it is responsible for the poisoning. Speaking at a panel of an economic conference in Russia's far east on Wednesday, the Russian President insisted the men did not work for the military. "We know who these people are, we have found them," Mr Putin said. "There is nothing special or criminal about it, I can assure you." An image released by the Metropolitan Police shows the men wanted over the attack. ( Metropolitan Police via AP Asked by the panel's moderator if the men work for the military, Mr Putin said they were "civilians" and called on them to come forward. "I would like to call on them so that they can hear us today," he said. "They should go to some media outlet. I hope they will come forward and tell about themselves." Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, meanwhile, told the UN Security Council that Britain's claim Russia was behind the attack was an invention "out of thin air", and riddled with inconsistencies. He accused Britain of attempting "to unleash a disgusting anti-Russian hysteria". Russia says there is no evidence these two men were given orders by the Russian state. ( Metropolitan Police via AP AP/ABC<doc-sep>
POLICE have identified two Russians they say are responsible for the nerve agent attack on Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the UK town of Salisbury earlier this year. Scotland Yard has released extraordinary details on the movements of two men, who they believe are operating under the aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, and are both aged about 40. The Crown Prosecution Service said the men are charged in absentia with conspiracy to murder, attempted murder and use of the nerve agent Novichok. Prosecutor Sue Hemming said the UK is not asking Moscow to extradite the men because Russian law forbids extradition of the country’s citizens. British Prime Minister Theresa May pinned the blame on the Russian government, telling the House of Commons the men were members of the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency. “Just as the police investigation has enabled the CPS to bring charges against the two suspects, so the security and intelligence agencies have carried out their own investigations into the organisation behind this attack,’’ she said. “Based on this work, I can today tell the House that, based on a body of intelligence, the Government has concluded that the two individuals named by the police and CPS are officers from the Russian military intelligence service, also known as the GRU. “The GRU is a highly disciplined organisation with a well-established chain of command. “So this was not a rogue operation. It was almost certainly also approved outside the GRU at a senior level of the Russian state.’’ Prime Minister Scott Morrison today backed May in condemning Russia for the “heinous attack” on the Skripals. In a joint statement with Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne this morning, he also indicated Australia was considering more measures to punish Moscow for the attempted poisoning. “Australia shares the UK’s anger and outrage at this dangerous and deliberate act by Russia, which also puts at risk the British public, police and other first responders,” the joint statement said. “We are in lock step with the UK on the importance of holding Russia to account and reaffirm our support for calls on Russia to fully disclose the extent of its chemical weapons’ program. “The Australian Government is in close consultation with the UK Government and other partners. We are committed to acting with our allies and partners to deter further Russian violations of international security.” Mrs May said 250 detectives had trawled through 11,000 hours of CCTV and taken more than 1400 statements to come to their conclusion. “This was a sickening and despicable act in which a devastatingly toxic nerve agent - known as Novichok - was used to attack our country,’’ she said. “It left four people fighting for their lives and one innocent woman dead.’’ Six months after Russian double-agent Mr Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with the military-grade nerve agent Novichok, police have produced CCTV of the men’s movements around Salisbury and London. They also released photographs of a fake perfume bottle they said was used to smuggle the deadly nerve agent into England. While the Skripals were critically injured but ultimately survived the attack, two Salisbury locals who found the perfume bottle in June, Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley, were also badly injured. Ms Sturgess died several days later. Police released extraordinary CCTV images of the two men arriving off a Moscow into London’s Gatwick Airport on March 2. They also released images of them captured at Salisbury train station on March 3 in what they allege was a reconnaissance mission. The men stayed at a hotel in London and travelled from Waterloo train station before being captured again on CCTV at Salisbury on March 4, the day the Skripals were attacked on March 4. Finally, the police provided CCTV showing the men departing Heathrow Airport at 10.30pm on a Moscow-bound flight on March 4. Police also produced photographs of a Nina Ricci perfume box, and a false perfume bottle inside with an extended nozzle, which they said had been brought over from Russia to smuggle the nerve agent into the UK. Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley were affected by the agent when Mr Rowley found it on the street and gave it to his partner Ms Sturgess, who sprayed it on her wrists. The Sun reports that the 45-year-old Rowley is now totally blind and has lost the use of his limbs after being diagnosed with meningitis just weeks after he survived the attack.