May brands Russia's GRU military intelligence agency a 'threat to all our allies and citizens' as she vows Salisbury attackers WILL be arrested if they ever leave the country again

  • Theresa May has branded Russian military intelligence agency a major threat
  • The PM said the two men identified as Salisbury attackers were GRU officers 
  • Insisted the pair will be arrested and brought to justice if they ever leave Russia  

Theresa May today branded Russian's GRU military intelligence agency a 'threat to all our allies and all our citizens' - as she vowed the Salisbury attackers will be arrested if they ever leave the country again.

The Prime Minister said a 'body of evidence' amassed by the UK authorities had identified the pair as officers of Moscow's version of MI6 - and also indicated the nerve agent outrage was ordered from the highest levels of the Russian state.

She said that the UK would issue an Interpol red notice for the arrest of the two men.

'Should either of these individuals ever again travel outsideRussia we will make every possible step to detain them, extradite them and bring them to face justice here in the United Kingdom,' the premier said.

Mrs May added: 'We will deploy the full range of tools across our security apparatus in order to deter the threat from the GRU.' 

The warning came in a statement to MPs after two Russians were named as the prime suspects in the Novichok chemical weapons outrage in Salisbury.

Theresa May delivered an update to the House of Commons today on the Salisbury investigation (pictured)

Theresa May delivered an update to the House of Commons today on the Salisbury investigation (pictured)

These are the two Russians being sought over the Novichok poisoning in Salisbury in March. Police say it is unlikely Petrov and Boshirov are their real names, as they are thought to have many aliases

These are the two Russians being sought over the Novichok poisoning in Salisbury in March. Police say it is unlikely Petrov and Boshirov are their real names, as they are thought to have many aliases

Astonishing CCTV images show Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov grinning as they walk around the Wiltshire city on the day former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with the military grade chemical weapon.

The attack left a trail of the deadly nerve agent around Salisbury, with mother-of-three Dawn Sturgess dying after she came into contact with it and county police officer Nick Bailey being hospitalised during the investigation.

The CPS today announced Petrov and Boshirov are wanted for conspiracy to murder Mr Skripal and the attempted murder of his daughter. If caught, the Russians will also be charged with the attempted murder of DS Bailey and the use of Novichok contrary to the Chemical Weapons Act.

Speaking in the Commons, Mrs May said: 'We repeatedly asked Russia to account for what happened in Salisbury in March, and they have replied with obfuscation and lies.

'This has included trying to pass the blame for this attack onto terrorists, onto our international partners, and even onto the future mother-in-law of Yulia Skripal.

'They even claimed that I, myself, invented Novichok. Their attempts to hide the truth by pushing out a deluge of disinformation simply reinforces their culpability.

'As we made clear in March, only Russia had the technical means, operational experience and motive to carry out the attack.' 

Mrs May said that alongside the police probe into Salisbury the security services had been sifting through evidence.

'Based on this work, I can today tell the House that, based on a body of intelligence, the Government has concluded that the two individuals named by the police and CPS are officers from the Russian military intelligence service, also known as the GRU,' she said.

'The GRU is a highly disciplined organisation with a well-established chain of command.

'So this was not a rogue operation. It was almost certainly also approved outside the GRU at a senior level of the Russian state.' 

The pair were pictured leaving Britain at Heathrow Airport shortly after the attack and have never returned.

Prosecutors will not be applying to Russia for the extradition of the two men, as no agreement exists between the countries, but a European Arrest Warrant has been obtained in case the pair are spotted outside of Russia.

Making the announcement, Scotland Yard's counter terror Commissioner Neil Basu said: 'Today marks the most significant moment so far in what has been one of the most complex and intensive investigations we have undertaken in Counter Terrorism policing; the charging of two suspects – both Russian nationals - in relation to the attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal.'

The pair were caught on CCTV at Salisbury train station shortly after 4pm on March 3, the day Mr Skirpal was poisoned

The pair were caught on CCTV at Salisbury train station shortly after 4pm on March 3, the day Mr Skirpal was poisoned

Mr Basu said it is likely the suspects, who are aged around 40, were travelling under aliases and Petrov and Boshirov are not their real names.

Scotland Yard are appealing to anyone around the world who knows their real identities to contact them. 

A CPS spokesman said: 'Prosecutors from the Counter Terrorism Division have considered the evidence and have concluded there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and it is clearly in the public interest to charge Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, who are Russian nationals.'