Theresa May: Novichok Attackers Were Russian Military Intelligence Officers

Prime Minister Theresa May said Wednesday the two Russian suspects accused of carrying out the nerve-agent poisonings on British soil worked for the Kremlin’s military intelligence agency, the GRU. It was not a “rogue operation,” but likely approved by senior leaders in Russia, she said. May noted the connection shows Russia’s actions are “a threat to all our allies and all our citizens,” and that the U.K. will “deploy the full range of tools from across our national security apparatus” to counter them. The attacks with the rare Novichok nerve agent seriously wounded four people and killed one. The two Russians facing charges over the poisoning were also identified Wednesday, and May said that if they ever leave Russia, the U.K. will have them arrested.