Nerve Attack

Chemical-Weapons Watchdog Backs U.K. Findings on the Agent Used Against Skripals

But OPCW does not mention Novichok or Russia by name.

An international chemical-weapons watchdog has effectively confirmed that a Novichok nerve agent was used in the attempted murders of Sergei and Yulia Skripal, backing the British government’s conclusions. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said an analysis of samples taken from Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia, and Det. Sgt. Nick Bailey, who was one of the first police to respond to the scene, confirmed the U.K.’s assessment. The executive summary released by the OPCW does not mention Novichok or Russia by name, but states: “The results of the analysis by the OPCW designated laboratories of environmental and biomedical samples collected by the OPCW team confirms the findings of the United Kingdom relating to the identity of the toxic chemical that was used in Salisbury and severely injured three people.” Yulia Skripal and Bailey have since been discharged from the hospital—Sergei Skripal remains in care, but his condition is said to be improving rapidly.