By James Simons-
Two Russian nationals have been named and charged over the novichok poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, Wiltshire. British police and prosecutors announced the dramatic news on Wednesday.
Police said the two men were travelling on Russian passports under the names of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, and arrived in the UK on an Aeroflot flight days before the attack. The Crown Prosecution Service said there was enough evidence to charge them. British investigators said the two men were believed to have worked for Russia’s GRU secret service. The pair were on the Aeroflot SU2588 flight from Moscow to London Gatwick on the afternoon of March 2 2018
The pair arrived at London Victoria station by train from Gatwick before travelling on public transport to Waterloo station, and then to the City Stay Hotel in Bow Road, east London, where they stayed for two nights.
The Crown Prosecution Service has charged the two men with conspiracy to murder the Skripals and DS Nick Bailey, both of whom fell ill after going to the Skripal home. The Russian pair were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury. The pair are also charged with the use and possession of novichok, contrary to the Chemical Weapons Act. They are also charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Yulia Skripal and DS Bailey.
They have not been charged with the later poisoning that killed Dawn Sturgess and left Charlie Rowley seriously ill, after they became unwell on 30 June at an address in Amesbury, Wiltshire.
The investigation has recovered CCTV of the two suspects after they flew into Gatwick airport and stayed in the City Stay hotel in east London. After arriving on Friday 2 March on an Aeroflot flight, they went to Salisbury on the Saturday in what police said they were satisfied was a reconnaissance trip.
They returned to London that day and went back to Salisbury on Sunday, when police say CCTV showed them in the vicinity of the Skripal house. Police believe that after contaminating the front door of the property, they immediately went to Heathrow via train and London underground and flew back on Sunday night at 10.30pm. Health experts said no one they travelled with on the flights or trains is believed to be in danger and no one else is reported to have fallen ill.