A former Russian spy is critically ill after being
exposed to an unknown substance in England. Authorities have cordoned
off the area around his home.
The hospital in Salsbury where the Russian spy is being treated
British media say a former Russian spy is in critical condition on Monday after being exposed to an "unknown substance."
Authorities did not identify the man, but the Press Association and other British media reported his name as Sergei Skripal, 66.
Skripal was convicted in Russia in 2006 on charges of spying for Britain and sentenced to 13 years.
Police said two people had been found unconscious on a bench on Sunday. "The pair are currently being treated for suspected exposure to an unknown substance and are currently in a critical condition in intensive care," said Wiltshire police on Twitter on Monday. They described the patients as a "man aged in his 60s, & a woman aged in her 30s."
Police presence was reported at Skripal's home on Monday.
Read more: US sanctions five Russians over human rights violations
A hospital in Salisbury said earlier on Monday that it was "dealing with a major incident involving a small number of casualties." It said staff and patients should come to the hospital as usual.
Former colonel in military intelligence
Skripal was once a colonel in Russia's GRU military intelligence and was convicted in Russian of betraying agents to British intelligence. He was eventually swapped as part of a Cold War-style spy exchange in Vienna in 2010.
Relations between Britain and Russia have been strained since the murder of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006 . A British inquiry said that the "hit" was probably approved by President Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, police said they were looking into a "major incident."
"We're conducting extensive enquiries to determine exactly what led to these people falling unconscious and clarify whether or not any criminal activity has happened," Wiltshire police said.
av/rc (AFP, Reuters)
Each evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.
Skripal was convicted in Russia in 2006 on charges of spying for Britain and sentenced to 13 years.
Police said two people had been found unconscious on a bench on Sunday. "The pair are currently being treated for suspected exposure to an unknown substance and are currently in a critical condition in intensive care," said Wiltshire police on Twitter on Monday. They described the patients as a "man aged in his 60s, & a woman aged in her 30s."
Police presence was reported at Skripal's home on Monday.
Read more: US sanctions five Russians over human rights violations
A hospital in Salisbury said earlier on Monday that it was "dealing with a major incident involving a small number of casualties." It said staff and patients should come to the hospital as usual.
Former colonel in military intelligence
Skripal was once a colonel in Russia's GRU military intelligence and was convicted in Russian of betraying agents to British intelligence. He was eventually swapped as part of a Cold War-style spy exchange in Vienna in 2010.
Relations between Britain and Russia have been strained since the murder of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006 . A British inquiry said that the "hit" was probably approved by President Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, police said they were looking into a "major incident."
"We're conducting extensive enquiries to determine exactly what led to these people falling unconscious and clarify whether or not any criminal activity has happened," Wiltshire police said.
av/rc (AFP, Reuters)
Each evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.
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