British troops to be vaccinated against deadly anthrax in response to Russian nerve agent attack
THOUSANDS of British troops will be vaccinated against anthrax amid the threat of Russian chemical warfare.
Defence chiefs will today order the measure in direct response to the Salisbury spy nerve agent attack.
It is part of a major armed forces investment announced by the Government — including £48million for a new Chemical Weapons Defence Centre.
The "cutting edge" site will be based at Britain's top secret military labs at Porton Down, Wilts.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson will say in Bristol today: "If we doubted the threat Russia poses to our citizens, we only have to look at the shocking example of their reckless attack in Salisbury," Gavin Williamson will say in a speech later.
"We know the chemical threat doesn't just come from Russia but from others."
What we know so far:
- Jeremy Corbyn was branded Vladimir Putin's puppet after refusing to accept Russia was behind the nerve agent attack.
- Theresa May announced she would kick out 23 diplomats in the wake of the Sergei Skripal case.
- Government officials and members of the Royal family would not be attending the World Cup in Russia.
- Skripal's niece claimed that daughter Yulia could have been the real target of the nerve agent attack.
- CCTV footage emerged showing Skripal's last journey before the chemical attack.
- Russian exile Nikolai Glushkov was discovered dead with 'strangulation marks' on his neck in London on Monday night
- Glushkov's daughter Natalia is believed to be in hiding after discovering her dad's dead body.
- Skripal and daughter Yulia remain in a critical condition in hospital after being exposed to the nerve agent in Salisbury on March 4.
The defence supremo will add: "I made the decision to offer the anthrax vaccine to our high-readiness forces providing them with vital protection against a deadly danger.
“In the face of intensifying threats, we must prioritise investment in military capabilities.
“We cannot sit back and let events overtake us. We have to be the ones who determine our future.”
The anthrax jab will allow fast-response troops to be deployed to the scene of a chemical attack.
MOST READ IN NEWS
The American Department of Defence already has a policy of mandatory anthrax vaccinations for its servicemen deployed overseas.
This includes some 28,500 military personnel based in South Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.
It comes as Tory MPs urged Mrs May to commit more cash for defence during her statement to the Commons on Russia yesterday.
Backbencher John Baron pressed her: “Given the actions of the Russian state under President Putin, has the time not now come for a fundamental reassessment of the level of our defence spending?”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.