'Pure' Novichok used for poisoning Ex-spy, watchdog confirms

The Hague [The Netherlands], April 12 (ANI): The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on Thursday backed Britain's findings that "high purity" Novichok was used to poisoning of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the English city of Salisbury.

The Hague-based watchdog, without mentioning Novichok, in a statement says that its experts, "confirm the findings of the United Kingdom relating to the identity of the toxic chemical that was used in Salisbury and severely injured three people," reported CNN.

On April 4, British military facility head Gary Aitkenhead claimed to identify the nerve agent as the military-grade Novichok but they had not proved that it was made in Russia.

He also hinted towards the involvement of the state-actors in the manufacturing of the nerve-agent.

The OPCW also "notes that the toxic chemical was of high purity. The latter is concluded from the almost complete absence of impurities."

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson described the results as "conclusive".

"There can be no doubt what was used and there remains no alternative explanation about who was responsible - only Russia has the means, motive and record," he said.

However, nowhere does the OPCW's report assign blame for the incident or even identify the source of the agent.

In addition to this, the word Novichok is not even mentioned in the part of the report made public, however the report does name the substance in the parts of the findings which remain classified.

"The UK has called for #UNSC meeting on the OPCW report on the Salisbury incident. We expect this to be held next week," the UK mission to the United Nations, wrote in a Twitter post.

The UK has called for #UNSC meeting on the OPCW report on the Salisbury incident. We expect this to be held next week. https://t.co/81znOFW9Bl

— UK at the UN ???? (@UKUN_NewYork) April 12, 2018

According to the British government, Skripal and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were exposed to a military-grade nerve agent in the British city of Salisbury on March 4.

Yulia was able to recover from the attack after being hospitalised for over a week. She also gave her first public statement to media. She expressed her gratitude towards the people of Salisbury to offer emotional support to her and her family.

Skripal has been admitted to the Salisbury district hospital and has now been declared as out of danger.(ANI)