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Novichok poisoning news: 'Russian hit squad who used false names' on flight out of UK identified by police 'with facial recognition technology'

Anti-terror police have identified the prime suspects in the Novichok poisonings, it emerged today.

Officers are understood to believe the perpetrators are Russian, having pored over hours of CCTV footage from the Salisbury area and airports.

Using facial recognition technology, they have identified two “fresh identities” who are believed to have been involved in the assassination attempt on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal, 66, his daughter Yulia, 33, and the murder of Dawn Sturgess, according to CNN.

The two suspected perpetrators were not previously known as spies or to be members of any known hit squad, a source told the US broadcaster.

Russian spy 'poisoning': Sergei and Yulia Skripal are fighting for life in hospital (PA)
Russian spy 'poisoning': Sergei and Yulia Skripal are fighting for life in hospital (PA)

It added that investigators had cross-checked the two suspects with passenger lists of the commercial flight that they are thought to have used to flee Britain after the attack. Detectives discovered that the names used for the flights were aliases, the source added.

Scotland Yard was remaining tight-lipped about the investigation into the attack, which the Government has blamed on Russia.

However, a source told the Press Association: “Investigators believe they have identified the suspected perpetrators of the Novichok attack through CCTV and have cross-checked this with records of people who entered the country around that time.

“They [the investigators] are sure they [the suspects] are Russian.”

Dawn Sturgess died after being exposed to the Novichok nerve agent
Dawn Sturgess died after being exposed to the Novichok nerve agent

The suspected perpetrators are believed to be members of the GRU military intelligence service, according to US reports.

The police and MI5 investigation turned into a murder inquiry after the death of Ms Sturgess, 44, earlier this month. An inquest opened today into her death. She died eight days after apparently coming into contact with Novichok from the same batch used in the attempted murder of the Skripals in March.

Her partner Charlie Rowley, 45, was left fighting for his life after also being contaminated by the chemical weapon but has since regained consciousness and has spoken to detectives.

It is believed that Ms Sturgess was exposed to at least 10 times the amount of nerve agent the Skripals came into contact with. Father and daughter both recovered and have been discharged from hospital.

Investigators are understood to be working on the theory that the substance was in a discarded perfume bottle found by Ms Sturgess in a park or in Salisbury city centre, and she sprayed Novichok straight on to her skin, the source said. The poison is believed to have been smeared on the door handle of Mr Skripal’s home.

A fingertip search of Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Salisbury was carried out yesterday. Other locations in Salisbury and nearby Amesbury were cordoned off last month after the Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley fell ill.

The fifth person struck down by Novichok was Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey who searched the Skripals’ home after they fell seriously ill.

Ministers have blamed Russia for the attacks, but the Kremlin has denied any Russian involvement.