Nerve gas ‘was fed to Russian spy and his daughter’: Investigators ‘rule out Sarin and VX’ as they turn focus to ‘very rare’ mystery chemical
Chemical weapons experts hope composition of agent used will show its origin
It is understood that detectives have ruled out the use of sarin gas or VX
They are said to be working on the theory the chemical was put in food or drink
By JAMES FIELDING and RICHARD SPILLETT
DAILYMAIL.COM
8 March 2018
Chemical weapons experts are today continuing the painstaking process of working out where the nerve agent used in the Russian spy attack came from.
Investigators have ruled out the two best known nerve agents, sarin and VX, sources have suggested. The Home Secretary has meanwhile described the chemical as ‘very rare’.
Detectives are understood to be moving away from the theory that the nerve agent was sprayed directly at Skripal, a source told MailOnline.
They are instead believed to be focusing more on the possibility that poison was added to his food or drink at some point before he collapsed.
It is hoped the composition of the substance will help investigators work out where the agent was manufactured.
Experts say the clear liquids can be made at only ‘a few laboratories in the world’, mostly government-controlled.
The first modern nerve agents, including sarin, which was released by a Japanese doomsday cult onto the Tokyo subway in 1995, were first devised by the Germans during World War II.
A new generation of the chemical weapons, including VX, were later invented by the British during the Cold War. VX is up to 150 times more deadly than sarin.
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