UK scientists unable to verify source of spy attack nerve agent

British scientists have been unable to identify the source country of the poison used against Sergei Skripal. Authorities had been quick to blame Russia for the attack and were confident tests would confirm this.

Britain’s Porton Down defense laboratory announced on Tuesday it was unable to verify the precise source of the nerve agent used against Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter.

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson told DW in March that Porton Down had “categorical” evidence that Russia was the source of the agent.

Military-grade nerve agent

Gary Aitkenhead, the chief executive of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at the facility, told Sky News:

• “We were able to identify it as Novichok, to identify that it was military-grade nerve agent.”
• “We have not identified the precise source, but we have provided the scientific info to government who have then used a number of other sources to piece together the conclusions you have come to.”
• The substance required “extremely sophisticated methods to create, something only in the capabilities of a state actor.”
• “We are continuing to work to help to provide additional information that might help us get closer to [the source] but we haven’t yet been able to do that.”

For more read the full of article at The Dw