Salisbury Novichok poisoning suspects Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov: What we know so far

Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov at Salisbury train station
Metropolitan Police
Olivia Tobin5 September 2018
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Police have reached a “significant development” in their investigation into the UK Novichok poisonings, naming two suspected Russian hit-men charged over the plot.

Russian nationals Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov have both been charged with carrying out the Novichok attack in Salisbury, in a dramatic breakthrough in the probe into the poisoning of Sergei Skripal.

The pair arrived to the country via Gatwick Airport and their exact movements have been painstakingly tracked and traced by the police, in an effort to investigate the poisonings from earlier this year.

Police have revealed the two men, who are approximately 40, arrived to Gatwick Airport on March 2 from Moscow and travelled to Victoria station at about 5.40pm.

Police have released two images of the suspects
Sky News

The two men then used the Tube to get to Waterloo and stayed in the area till about 7pm, before they made their way to City Stay Hotel, Bow Road, where they stayed for their whole trip.

The following day, on March 3, the pair then travelled via Waterloo to Salisbury to scope out the area at about 2.25pm, police said.

Petrov, arriving to Gatwick Airport
Metropolitan Police

Having looked around, Boshirov and Petrov then travelled back to London and came back to their hotel for about 8.05pm.

On March 4, the pair are accused of planting the Novichok on Mr Skripal’s front door.

It is believed by police that they took a similar route as the day before from Bow to Waterloo, leaving London at about 8am.

In a statement, police said: “CCTV shows them in the vicinity of Mr Skripal’s house and we believe that they contaminated the front door with Novichok.

The pair arriving to Salisbury Train Station on March 4
Metropolitan Police

“They left Salisbury and returned to Waterloo Station, arriving at approximately 4.45pm and boarded the London Underground at approximately 6.30pm to London Heathrow Airport.

“From Heathrow Airport, they returned to Moscow on Aeroflot flight SU2585, departing at 10.30pm on Sunday, 4 March.

“We have no evidence that they re-entered the UK after that date.”

The City Stay Hotel in Bow, where the suspects are believed to have stayed before the attack

Although the pair made use of the hotel in Bow, London’s transport and a flight from Heathrow, officers are confident there was “no risk who were on the same flight, trains or public transport used by the suspects.”

Their hotel room was also thoroughly tested by police, who said if any level of Novichok was in the room, it would not be strong enough to harm another visitor.

Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov walking on Fisherton Road, Salisbury, on March 4 (Metropolitan Police )
Metropolitan Police

The new information about the suspects has been a huge breakthrough for police after six months of investigating, but officers are appealing for the public’s help for any possible information to continue the investigation.

Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, National Lead for Counter Terrorism Policing said: “Today’s announcement by the CPS marks the most significant development in this investigation.

“We now have sufficient evidence to bring charges in relation to the attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury and domestic and European arrest warrants have been issued for the two suspects. We are also seeking to circulate Interpol Red Notices.

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia both survived the nerve agent poisoning 

“However, our enquiries do not stop here; and today, as well as updating you about the progress of the investigation, I am appealing once more to the public for their help, as we continue to build our evidence in this case.”

Anyone with information should contact the investigation team in confidence on 0800 789 321 or email Salisbury2018@met.police.uk.

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