Vladimir Putin’s government has linked the attempted murder of Russian spy Sergei Skripal to the deaths of three exiled enemies of the Krelim.
The Russian Embassy posted a sarcastic tweet to say it was a ‘coincidence’ both Skripal and Alexander Litvinenko – who was poisoned with polonium in 2006 – worked for MI6.
They also suggested the deaths of government official Boris Berezovsky and whistleblower Alexander Perepilichny were connected because they were ‘linked to US special services’.
The Embassy tweeted: ‘What a coincidence! Both Litvinenko and Skripal worked for MI6.
The Russian Embassy posted this sarcastic tweet and has linked the Sergei Skripal attack to three deaths of people who either worked for MI6 or UK special services
Former KGB agent Mr Litvinenko died in London in 2006, three weeks after drinking tea laced with radioactive polonium-210
‘Berezovsky and Perepilichny were linked to UK special services. Investigation details classified on grounds of national security.’
It comes as Home Secretary Amber Rudd chaired an emergency Cobra meeting on Saturday to discuss the poisoning of 66-year-old Skripal and his daughter Yulia, 33.
The pair are still in a critical condition after being poisoned by a nerve agent in Salisbury city centre last Sunday.
Ms Rudd said it was still ‘too early’ to say with certainty who was behind the poisoning that left the former Russian military intelligence agent and his daughter in a critical condition.
Rudd said the investigation has been painstaking and involved more than 250 counter-terrorism officers.
More than 240 pieces of evidence have been collected and 200 witnesses have been identified, she added.
Former KGB agent Mr Litvinenko died in London in 2006, three weeks after drinking tea laced with radioactive polonium-210.
A public inquiry concluded in 2016 that the killing of Mr Litvinenko, an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin, had ‘probably’ been carried out with the approval of the Russian president.
Boris Berezovsky (pictured) was found hanged in 2013 and was an exiled Russian oligarch and people that knew said it was hard to believe he would have committed suicide
Alexander Perepilichny (pictured) live in Surrey and collapsed after he went for a run near his home
Mr Berezovsky was found hanged in 2013 and was an exiled Russian oligarch and critic of Putin.
Yuri Felshtinsky co-wrote the book, Blowing Up Russia, with Litvinenko and said ‘all those who knew him believe it is difficult to think he would have committed suicide.
Meanwhile, Mr Perepilichny, who had been investigating a Russian money-laundering scheme linked to the Krelim, collapsed after going for a run near his home in Surrey in 2012.
And the suggestion the three deaths are linked to the Skripal poisoning means relations between Moscow and London have reached a new low.
Meanwhile, Sir Andrew Wood, Britain’s former ambassador to Russia, said he was certain the nerve agent attack was sanctioned from within Russia.
The Zizzi restaurant in Salisbury (pictured) remains closed off after Skripal and his daughter were eating there on Sunday
Home Secretary Amber Rudd (pictured at in Salisbury) said the investigation involves more than 250 counter-terrorism officers
He told the Guardian: ‘It’s a terrible thing to have done. It’s typical of the state that Russia is in and it’s very hard to see what profit they can get from this.
‘It advertises the fact that they are vindictive and dedicated to pursuing revenge.’
Sir Andrew also said the UK could expel the Russian ambassador from the country in retaliation after the poisoning.
He said ministers could make the move if Moscow was shown to be behind the Cold War-style attack.
Soldiers were seen at the South Western Ambulance Service station on Saturday after a vehicle was winched on to the back of an Army low-loader and taken away.
The Ministry of Defence said armed forces personnel would be returning to the city for a third day on Sunday.
Cordons remain in place at a host of locations across the city, including Mr Skripal’s house and the cemetery where his wife and son are buried.