Daughter of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal '˜conscious and talking'

The poisoned daughter of a Russian double agent has reportedly regained consciousness more than three weeks since the pair were targeted in a nerve agent attack.

Yulia Skripal was left critically ill when exposed to Novichok on 4 March in Salisbury, Wiltshire, but is now said to be “improving rapidly”. Her father, ex-spy Sergei Skripal, remains in a critical, but stable condition in hospital.

The BBC reports separate sources have verified Yulia is both conscious and talking.

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Scotland Yard believes Mr Skripal and his daughter, who was visiting him from Russia, first came into contact with the deadly chemical at his home.

The daughter of former Russian Spy Sergei Skripal, Yulia Skripal. Pic: Yulia Skripal/Facebook via APThe daughter of former Russian Spy Sergei Skripal, Yulia Skripal. Pic: Yulia Skripal/Facebook via AP
The daughter of former Russian Spy Sergei Skripal, Yulia Skripal. Pic: Yulia Skripal/Facebook via AP

Detailed forensic testing revealed the highest concentration of Novichok was found on the front door.

Suspicions the Kremlin oversaw the assassination plot has had profound international repercussions.

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Sergei Skripal and daughter poisoned from front door, police say

Tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions were launched by Russia on Thursday after more than 130 suspected spies were ordered out by British allies.

Ex-spy Sergei Skripal remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.Ex-spy Sergei Skripal remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
Ex-spy Sergei Skripal remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would retaliate by expelling the same number of diplomats that each country had ejected.

“Russia should not be acting like a victim,” US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in response.

Meanwhile, a vast attempted murder investigation continues to unfold in the Wiltshire city, most recently leading police to cordon off a children’s play area at Montgomery Gardens.

Detectives said traces of the nerve agent had been found at some of the other scenes where investigations had been carried out, but at lower concentrations.

Forensics carrying out tests in Salisbusy. Pic: AFP/Getty ImagesForensics carrying out tests in Salisbusy. Pic: AFP/Getty Images
Forensics carrying out tests in Salisbusy. Pic: AFP/Getty Images
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Efforts will now focus in and around the address, and specialist teams will step back from some of the other areas investigated over the past few weeks.

Mr Skripal and his daughter have been patients at Salisbury District Hospital since they were discovered unconscious on a park bench close to The Maltings shopping centre nearly four weeks ago.

Wiltshire Police Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, who was also exposed to the nerve agent, was discharged from the hospital last week.