Russian spy Sergei Skripal’s visit to Zizzi in Salisbury could be where Cold War-style poison trail began
A POISON trail around a Wiltshire city could have begun with Russian double agent Sergei Skripal's visit to Zizzi.
The retired spy, 66, and his daughter Yulia Skripal, 33, are both critically ill in Salisbury hospital.
They were found slumped in the Maltings shopping centre in Salisbury where police said they were exposed to an unidentified substance.
Moscow-based Yulia is believed to have been visiting her dad Sergei, who lost his wife, son and older brother in the last two years.
Police declared a major incident and quarantined the A&E department, where up to 12 people began vomiting.
It sparked fears of a Kremlin-backed hit on Skripal, who was jailed for treason in Russia and came to Britain in a 2010 spy swap.
What we know so far:
- Ex-KGB spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia Skripal, 33, are in a critical condition in hospital after being exposed to an 'unknown substance'
- Sergei and Yulia were found slumped on a bench in a 'catatonic state' on Sunday
- Anti-terror cops are investigating CCTV believed to show the Russian dad and daughter before the suspected 'poisoning' in Salisbury, Wilts
- Zizzi's and a nearby pub have been cordoned as police try to establish whether a crime has been committed
- Two police officers were taken to hospital suffering itchy eyes, wheezing and rashes
- Major incident was declared after at least 12 others suffered symptoms including vomiting
- Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson threatens to pull officials out of the World Cup if Russia was found responsible for the suspected poisoning.
- Russia's UK embassy deny special services were involved
- Reports say Sergei feared for his life after the death of his wife and son in car crashes
- Sergei was jailed for 13 years in 2006 after being found guilty of sharing Russian state secrets to MI6
- In 2010 he was swapped for glamour spy Anna Chapman as part of a deal between Russia and the US
- The incident echoes of the killing of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko
Zizzi's and pub closed while cops investigate
Another neighbour, James Puttock, 47, said Sergei invited people over for a housewarming party.
Mr Puttock added: "He looked foreign but other than that, no, he didn't look like a spy.
"He never really looked smart, he looked very casual, he stood out because of that, it's hard to remember anything special about him."
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson today threatened to pull officials out of the World Cup if Russia was found to behind the suspected poisoning.
Bojo told MPs this afternoon it was "very difficult to imagine that UK representation to [the World Cup] could go ahead in the normal way".
Skripal was regarded as a traitor in Russia where he was jailed for 13 years in 2006.
The 66-year-old was accused of working for MI6 over several years, in particular disclosing the names of several dozen Russian agents working in Europe.
He was sentenced to 13 years in a high-security prison in August 2006, before being freed in a 2010 deal which saw 10 Russian sleeper agents expelled from the US.
Skripal retired from military intelligence, often known by its Russian-language acronym GRU, in 1999.
He went on to work at the Foreign Ministry until 2003 before becoming involved in business.
He was arrested in 2004 in Moscow and admitted he was recruited by British intelligence in 1995 and had provided information about GRU agents in Europe, for which he was paid more than £72,000 ($100,000).
Four years later, he was freed and came to Britain in the high-profile spy swap with Chapman heading back to Russia as part of the deal.
The glamorous redhead, once ordered to seduce US whistleblower Edward Snowden, went on to become a model and media personality.
Sources said hardline president Vladimir Putin would never have forgiven Skripal after his conviction for treason.
Former KGB chief Putin once said: “Traitors always end in a bad way. Usually from a drinking habit, or from drugs, right in the street.”
The Kremlin said today it was ready to cooperate if Britain asks it for help investigating the incident.
"Nobody has approached us with such a request," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with reporters.
He added: “Moscow is always open for cooperation."
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