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Russian model 'who was victim of Salisbury poisoning scare' claims Putin's henchmen tried to kill her

Anna Shapiro says her father was a 'general in the Russian army who played for the military orchestra' - Instagram
Anna Shapiro says her father was a 'general in the Russian army who played for the military orchestra' - Instagram

A Russian model who claims she was one of two people who fell ill at a Salisbury restaurant says she was targeted by assassins sent by Vladimir Putin.

Anna Shapiro, 30, reportedly became violently ill at a Prezzo restuarant in the city on Sunday night, sparking fears of another nerve agent attack following the poisoning of Sergei Skripal.

Wiltshire Police said two people were not exposed to "any kind of nerve agent" and enquiries are ongoing.

But The Sun reported security sources suggesting their illness may have been caused by a suspected rat poison attack. 

Ms Shapiro, who says her father was a "general in the Russian army who played for the military orchestra", claimed her husband Alex King, 42, collapsed in the toilet of the restaurant and was "foaming at the mouth". He remains in hospital.

Police cordon off the restaurant in Salisbury - Credit: Matt Cardy/Getty
Police cordon off the restaurant in Salisbury on Sunday night Credit: Matt Cardy/Getty

She said she may have been targeted because she has renounced the Russian president.

She told The Sun she believes the Russians think she's a British spy, adding: “I was targeted by Putin’s henchmen. They want me dead as I oppose Putin and have turned my back on my country. Russia is capable of anything.”

Officers in bio-hazard suits evacuated nearby restaurants and pubs after the incident on Sunday.

Police are not linking their illness to the recent poisonings in Salisbury and Amesbury.

Theresa May has accused Russia of being behind the Novichok nerve agent attack on Col Skripal, 67, and his daughter Yulia Skripal, 33.

Prezzo was closed until recently due to the death of Dawn Sturgess, 44, who died after being exposed to the nerve agent.