Sergei and Yulia Skripal may have suffered life-long brain damage as a result of the nerve agent attack in Salisbury, a court has heard.

Mr Justice Williams told the Court of Protection that the father and daughter remain in intensive care under heavy sedation.

“The precise effect of their exposure on their long-term health remains unclear but medical tests indicate that their mental capacity might be compromised to an unknown and so far unascertained degree,” the judge said.

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“At present both Mr and Ms Skripal are critical but stable; it is not inconceivable that their condition could rapidly deteriorate.”

A consultant treating the victims at Salisbury District Hospital said that Mr Skripal was unable to communicate in any way, but said his daughter was unable to communicate in any “meaningful way”.

The doctor said it was not yet possible to tell whether the pair can recover but that they were being treated “on the basis that they would wish to be kept alive and to achieve optimal recovery”.

He ruled that doctors could pass fresh blood samples from the victims to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) alongside their medical records to aid an international investigation.

Mr Justice Williams made the ruling under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 at the Government’s request because the Skripals are unable to give consent.

The judge said taking new samples was in their “best interest” and it was not possible to say whether their current incapacity was temporary or permanent.

He concluded that the OPCW’s investigation may provide information on how to treat Mr Skripal and his daughter, and what happened to them.

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“That might simply confirm the current conclusions, it might elaborate or clarify them, it might reach a different conclusion,” Mr Justice Williams said.

“Although the Secretary of State [Amber Rudd] does not believe the latter prospect to be likely given her confidence in Porton Down’s findings, I do not think the possibility can be ignored.”

He announced his decision on Thursday after analysing the case at a private hearing earlier this week, during which evidence was heard from chemical weapons experts, arms control and the Home Office.

The samples will be used to identify the nerve agent used to poison the pair and for DNA analysis confirming the origin of blood originally tested by the British military.

Experts at the Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down identified the nerve agent used against the Skripals as part of the Soviet-developed “novichok” group.

The Prime Minister said Russia had provided “no credible explanation” on how the substance came to be used on the streets of Wiltshire and accused Vladimir Putin’s government of culpability.

OPCW investigators have carried out tests in areas visited by Mr Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury and the results are expected to take a minimum of two weeks.

Police have not confirmed how the nerve agent was administered but confirmed a total of 38 people were treated for varying symptoms resulting from exposure.

Only the Skripals and Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey were kept in hospital, while an unnamed person is being treated as an outpatient.

DS Nick Bailey was discharged from treatment on Thursday, officials announced.

Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Kier Pritchard hailed the “absolutely fantastic news” and read statements from DS Bailey and his wife, Sarah.

The officer said the level of global support had been “unbelievable”, adding: “I’ve really appreciated every single message. One of the things that has lifted me is the public support police have received during this incident.”

DS Bailey gave his “heartfelt thanks” to medics and said he has been focusing on getting better.

“I want people to focus on the investigation – not the police officer who was unfortunate enough to be caught up in it,” he added. “I understand why there is attention on me, but all I have done is represent every police officer who goes out there every day and puts their life at risk.

“As for what happens now – we are just taking each day as it comes… normal life for me will probably never be the same.”

DS Bailey’s wife said life had been “turned upside down” for the family.

“Nick doesn’t like the term hero, but he has always been a hero to me and our children,” she added.

Ms Skripal had been visiting her father on a holiday from Russia when they fell ill after going for lunch in Salisbury on 4 March, with passersby trying to help after finding the pair slumped on a park bench.

Shape Created with Sketch. Skripal attack aftermath – in pictures Show all 15 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Skripal attack aftermath – in pictures 1/15 Scene of attack Members of the emergency services in hazard suits fix the tent over the bench where Sergei and Yulia Skripal were found unconscious on a park bench in Salisbury in March 2018. Getty 2/15 Victim - Sergei Skripal The retired Russian colonel and former double agent for MI6 was in a critical condition in hospital for more than two months after being exposed to novichok in Salisbury. He was given refuge in the UK after being jailed in Moscow for treason. Mr Skripal came to Britain as part of a high-profile “spy swap” in 2010 in which four men were exchanged for ten Russian "sleeper agents" in the US. In this image he is speaking to his lawyer from behind bars in Moscow in 2006. AP 3/15 Victim - Yulia Skripal Yulia Skripal was struck down by a novichok poison alongside her father Sergei. Facebook 4/15 Scene of attack A police officer stands guard outside a branch of the Italian chain restaurant Zizzi where the pair dined at before falling ill. It was boarded off whilst investigators worked on the building and later found traces of the chemical weapon within it. AFP/Getty 5/15 Scene of attack Large areas of central Salisbury were cordoned off by police following the discovery of the Skripals. Traces of nerve agent were also found in The Mill pub. PA 6/15 Victim - Nick Bailey Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, rushed to the aid of the Russian ex-spy and his daughter who were targeted with a nerve agent. He was hospitalized after aiding them and didn't leave until three weeks after the attack. Wiltshire Police/Rex 7/15 Police investigation - Skripal’s home Police believe they were poisoned at home, and detectives found the highest concentration of novichok on the front door of Mr Skripal’s house. Getty 8/15 Theresa May visits scene of attack Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May spokes with Wiltshire Police's Chief Constable Kier Pritchard near where the Skripal's were found. Britain expelled 23 Russian diplomats over the nerve agent poisoning and suspended high-level contacts, including for the World Cup on March 14. Theresa May told parliament that Russia had failed to respond to her demand for an explanation on how a Soviet-designed chemical, Novichok, was used in Salisbury. AFP/Getty 9/15 Skripal days before attack Sergei Skripal days before he was exposed to Novichok, that has left him fighting for life. ITV News 10/15 Police investigation - military involvement British soldiers were deployed soon after the attack to help a counter-terrorism investigation into the nerve agent attack. One of the places they were asked to help out with was Skripal's home and it's surrounding. They were asked to remove a vehicle connected to the agent attack in Salisbury, from a residential street in Gillingham. AFP/Getty 11/15 Police investigation Personnel in protective coveralls and breathing equipment cover an ambulance with a tarpaulin at the Salisbury District Hospital. AFP/Getty 12/15 Police investigation The investigation extended to the grave of Sergei Skripal's son Alexander in London Road cemetery. Getty 13/15 Police investigation The Counter Terrorism Policing Network requested assistance from the military to remove a number of vehicles and objects from Salisbury. EPA 14/15 Home Secretary visits scene of attack Home Secretary Amber Rudd visited the scene of the nerve agent attack at the Maltings shopping centre on 9 March. Getty 15/15 Yulia Skripal speaks for the first time Yulia Skripal, speaking for the first time, said she felt lucky to have survived the nerve agent attack in Salisbury which left her fighting for life. Ms Skripal said her life had been “turned upside down” by the assassination attempt. But the Russian national added she hoped to return to her homeland one day, despite the Kremlin being blamed for the attack. Reuters 1/15 Scene of attack Members of the emergency services in hazard suits fix the tent over the bench where Sergei and Yulia Skripal were found unconscious on a park bench in Salisbury in March 2018. Getty 2/15 Victim - Sergei Skripal The retired Russian colonel and former double agent for MI6 was in a critical condition in hospital for more than two months after being exposed to novichok in Salisbury. He was given refuge in the UK after being jailed in Moscow for treason. Mr Skripal came to Britain as part of a high-profile “spy swap” in 2010 in which four men were exchanged for ten Russian "sleeper agents" in the US. In this image he is speaking to his lawyer from behind bars in Moscow in 2006. AP 3/15 Victim - Yulia Skripal Yulia Skripal was struck down by a novichok poison alongside her father Sergei. Facebook 4/15 Scene of attack A police officer stands guard outside a branch of the Italian chain restaurant Zizzi where the pair dined at before falling ill. It was boarded off whilst investigators worked on the building and later found traces of the chemical weapon within it. AFP/Getty 5/15 Scene of attack Large areas of central Salisbury were cordoned off by police following the discovery of the Skripals. Traces of nerve agent were also found in The Mill pub. PA 6/15 Victim - Nick Bailey Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, rushed to the aid of the Russian ex-spy and his daughter who were targeted with a nerve agent. He was hospitalized after aiding them and didn't leave until three weeks after the attack. Wiltshire Police/Rex 7/15 Police investigation - Skripal’s home Police believe they were poisoned at home, and detectives found the highest concentration of novichok on the front door of Mr Skripal’s house. Getty 8/15 Theresa May visits scene of attack Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May spokes with Wiltshire Police's Chief Constable Kier Pritchard near where the Skripal's were found. Britain expelled 23 Russian diplomats over the nerve agent poisoning and suspended high-level contacts, including for the World Cup on March 14. Theresa May told parliament that Russia had failed to respond to her demand for an explanation on how a Soviet-designed chemical, Novichok, was used in Salisbury. AFP/Getty 9/15 Skripal days before attack Sergei Skripal days before he was exposed to Novichok, that has left him fighting for life. ITV News 10/15 Police investigation - military involvement British soldiers were deployed soon after the attack to help a counter-terrorism investigation into the nerve agent attack. One of the places they were asked to help out with was Skripal's home and it's surrounding. They were asked to remove a vehicle connected to the agent attack in Salisbury, from a residential street in Gillingham. AFP/Getty 11/15 Police investigation Personnel in protective coveralls and breathing equipment cover an ambulance with a tarpaulin at the Salisbury District Hospital. AFP/Getty 12/15 Police investigation The investigation extended to the grave of Sergei Skripal's son Alexander in London Road cemetery. Getty 13/15 Police investigation The Counter Terrorism Policing Network requested assistance from the military to remove a number of vehicles and objects from Salisbury. EPA 14/15 Home Secretary visits scene of attack Home Secretary Amber Rudd visited the scene of the nerve agent attack at the Maltings shopping centre on 9 March. Getty 15/15 Yulia Skripal speaks for the first time Yulia Skripal, speaking for the first time, said she felt lucky to have survived the nerve agent attack in Salisbury which left her fighting for life. Ms Skripal said her life had been “turned upside down” by the assassination attempt. But the Russian national added she hoped to return to her homeland one day, despite the Kremlin being blamed for the attack. Reuters

Witnesses described them twitching, vomiting and stopping breathing – all symptoms consistent with nerve agent exposure.

The deadly chemicals attack the nervous system and can kill victims by paralysing the respiratory system, causing oxygen deprivation and eventual suffocation.

One of the scientists who developed novichok before defecting to the US said there was “no cure” for the weapons, and any antidote must be administered extremely quickly to take effect.

Mr Skripal moved to the cathedral city after being handed over in a Cold War-style spy swap in 2010.

He had been jailed for treason in Russia for allegedly passing secrets to MI6 while a colonel in the GRU military intelligence agency.

Mr Skripal’s wife died in 2012, his son passed away last year and he is also believed to have lost his brother in recent years.

The Court of Protection heard that he has some relatives in Russia but the Home Office has not attempted to contact them.

The Russian government has promised to cooperate with the OPCW but dismissed its conclusions that ally Bashar al-Assad killed civilians with sarin gas in Syria last year.

It denies any wrongdoing and claims it has destroyed all chemical weapons stockpiles and complied with the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Alexander Yakovenko, the Russian ambassador to the UK, heightened tensions by accusing Britain of storing deadly novichok itself in an extraordinary press conference, while the attack was discussed in EU talks.

The Metropolitan Police has said the criminal investigation is likely to take “many months” and continues to appeal for anyone with information to come forward. </s> A judge has given doctors permission to take blood samples from Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia so that tests can be carried out by chemical weapons experts, following a hearing in a specialist court.

Mr Justice Williams has made a ruling following a hearing in the Court of Protection, where issues relating to people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions are considered, in London.

He said both Mr and Ms Skripal were unconscious in hospital in Salisbury and therefore unable to give their consent to blood samples being taken or tested.

The judge, who is based in the Family Division of the High Court in London, announced his decision on Thursday after analysing the case at a private hearing earlier this week.

Mr Justice Williams said doctors at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust could provide blood samples to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

He said trust bosses could also provide copies of medical notes to the OPCW.

The judge said he had concluded that such moves were in the best interests of Mr and Ms Skripal.

Mr Justice Williams said the UK Government had invited OPCW, which is based in The Hague, Holland, to send experts to assist with investigations.

He said OPCW experts wanted to analyse fresh blood samples from Mr and Ms Skripal.

The judge said bosses at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust had told government officials that a Court of Protection judge would have to authorise such moves because Mr and Ms Skripal were incapacitated.

He said Government lawyers had then asked him to make decisions. </s> LONDON (Reuters) - An English court has given permission for blood samples to be taken from poisoned ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter for testing by chemical weapons experts, a courts spokesman said on Thursday.

London's Court of Protection, which makes decision over the welfare of people who are unable to do so themselves, agreed doctors could take samples from Skripal for examination by inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the judicial spokesman said. 

 

 (Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Alistair Smout) </s> LONDON, March 22 (Reuters) - An English court has given permission for blood samples to be taken from poisoned ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter for testing by chemical weapons experts, a courts spokesman said on Thursday.

London’s Court of Protection, which makes decision over the welfare of people who are unable to do so themselves, agreed doctors could take samples from Skripal for examination by inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the judicial spokesman said. (Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Alistair Smout) </s> LONDON (Reuters) - An English court has given permission for blood samples to be taken from poisoned ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter for testing by chemical weapons experts, a courts spokesman said on Thursday.

London’s Court of Protection, which makes decision over the welfare of people who are unable to do so themselves, agreed doctors could take samples from Skripal for examination by inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the judicial spokesman said. </s> A judge has given permission for blood samples to be taken from Sergei and Yulia Skripal so that tests can be carried out by chemical weapons experts, following the pair's poisoning with a nerve agent.

Mr Justice Williams made the ruling following a hearing in the Court of Protection, since neither Mr Skripal, 66, or his 33-year-old daughter, are able to give their consent.

He also ruled that the pair's medical notes could be passed on to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), as such moves were in their best interests.

OPCW experts were invited to the UK by the Government to assist with the investigation.

The pair remain unconscious and in critical conditions following the March 4 attack in Salisbury.

Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, the police officer who was poisoned by the Novichok nerve agent while working on the investigation into the targeted attack "is making great steps forward", according to the Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police.

On Wednesday, ITV News learnt that Det Sgt Bailey is expected to be discharged from hospital shortly. </s> A military-grade nerve toxin attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter may have left them with compromised mental capacity and it is unclear whether they will recover, a British judge said on Thursday.

Britain has said Russia used a Soviet-era chemical weapon called Novichok to attack Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the first known offensive use of such a weapon on European soil since World War II. Russia has denied any involvement.

In a boost to Prime Minister Theresa May, European Union leaders agreed with Britain’s assessment “that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible and that there is no plausible alternative explanation.”

A London court gave permission for blood samples to be taken from the Skripals for examination by chemical weapons inspectors to confirm the conclusion of Britain’s Porton Down military research laboratory.

An unidentified doctor who is treating the Skripals said they were both heavily sedated and unable to communicate, and that it was not possible to assess when or to what extent either may regain mental capacity, according to the court’s ruling.

“The precise effect of their exposure on their long-term health remains unclear, albeit medical tests indicate that their mental capacity might be compromised to an unknown and so far unascertained degree,” Judge David Williams said in his ruling.

Skripal, once a colonel in Russia’s GRU military intelligence service, and his 33-year-old daughter were found slumped unconscious on a bench outside a shopping centre in the southern English city of Salisbury on March 4.

They were both in a physically stable condition and were being treated “on the basis they would wish to be kept alive,” the doctor said, according to Williams’s ruling at the London’s Court of Protection, which makes decisions about the welfare of people who are unable to do so themselves.

Williams said the application to take the samples had been made urgently on Tuesday. Both Skripal and his daughter were critical but stable, although he added: “It is not inconceivable that their condition could rapidly deteriorate.”

Judge Williams said an unidentified analyst from Porton Down had given evidence that blood samples taken from the Skripals indicated exposure to a nerve agent. “The samples tested positive for the presence of a Novichok class nerve agent or closely related agent,” his ruling said.

A policeman who fell ill after helping the Skripals was released from hospital on Thursday after more than two weeks of treatment, officials said.

Britain won a show of support from other European states, potentially opening the way for further action against Russia after May used an EU summit to urge the region to show a united front against the challenge Moscow presented.

“We stand in unqualified solidarity with the United Kingdom in the face of this grave challenge to our shared security,” the EU leaders said in a joint statement.

In the worst crisis between London and Moscow since the Cold War, Prime Minsiter May has expelled 23 Russian diplomats who she says were spies. Russia has ordered out 23 British diplomats. Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said she was already considering expelling Russian spies from her territory.

But Russia was defiant. Its ambassador to London, Vladimir Yakovenko, said on Thursday that, had Novichok been used, the Skripals would have died.

Yakovenko rebuked British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson for comparing Russia’s hosting of the World Cup this summer with Nazi Germany’s hosting of the Olympics in 1936.

In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin discussed Britain’s “unfriendly and provocative” policy at a session of the national security council, RIA news agency quoted the Kremlin as saying. </s> LONDON/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A military-grade nerve toxin attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter may have left them with compromised mental capacity and it is unclear whether they will recover, a British judge said on Thursday.

Britain has said Russia used a Soviet-era chemical weapon called Novichok to attack Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the first known offensive use of such a weapon on European soil since World War Two. Russia has denied any involvement.

In a boost to Prime Minister Theresa May, European Union leaders agreed with Britain’s assessment “that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible and that there is no plausible alternative explanation”.

A London court gave permission for blood samples to be taken from the Skripals for examination by chemical weapons inspectors to confirm the conclusion of Britain’s Porton Down military research laboratory.

An unidentified doctor who is treating the Skripals said they were both heavily sedated and unable to communicate, and that it was not possible to assess when or to what extent either may regain mental capacity, according to the court’s ruling.

“The precise effect of their exposure on their long term health remains unclear, albeit medical tests indicate that their mental capacity might be compromised to an unknown and so far unascertained degree,” Judge David Williams said in his ruling.

Skripal, once a colonel in Russia’s GRU military intelligence service, and his 33-year-old daughter were found slumped unconscious on a bench outside a shopping center in the southern English city of Salisbury on March 4.

They were both in a physically stable condition and were being treated “on the basis they would wish to be kept alive”, the doctor said, according to Williams’s ruling at the London’s Court of Protection, which makes decisions about the welfare of people who are unable to do so themselves.

Williams said the application to take the samples had been made urgently on Tuesday. Both Skripal and his daughter were critical but stable, although he added: “It is not inconceivable that their condition could rapidly deteriorate”

Judge Williams said an unidentified analyst from Porton Down had given evidence that blood samples taken from the Skripals indicated exposure to a nerve agent. “The samples tested positive for the presence of a Novichok class nerve agent or closely related agent,” his ruling said.

A policeman who fell ill after helping the Skripals was released from hospital on Thursday after more than two weeks of treatment, officials said.

Britain won a show of support from other European states, potentially opening the way for further action against Russia after May used an EU summit to urge the region to show a united front against the challenge Moscow presented.

“We stand in unqualified solidarity with the United Kingdom in the face of this grave challenge to our shared security,” the EU leaders said in a joint statement.

In the worst crisis between London and Moscow since the Cold War, May has expelled 23 Russian diplomats whom she says were spies. Russia has ordered out 23 British diplomats.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said she was already considering expelling Russian spies from her territory.

But Russia was defiant. Its ambassador to London, Vladimir Yakovenko, said on Thursday that, had Novichok been used, the Skripals would have died.

Yakovenko rebuked British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson for comparing Russia’s hosting of the soccer World Cup this summer with Nazi Germany’s hosting of the Olympics in 1936.

In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin discussed Britain’s “unfriendly and provocative” policy at a session of the national security council, RIA news agency quoted the Kremlin as saying. </s> Image caption Det Sgt Nick Bailey said he had been "overwhelmed" by support from the public

A police officer who fell ill after being exposed to the nerve agent used on a Russian ex-spy and his daughter has been discharged from hospital.

Det Sgt Nick Bailey was left seriously ill after responding to the attack on Sergei Skripal, 66, and Yulia Skripal, 33, in Salisbury earlier this month.

The pair remain in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Det Sgt Bailey said that "normal life for me will probably never be the same" as he also thanked hospital staff.

He said in a statement that there were "no words" to explain how he felt, adding: "It really has been completely surreal".

He added: "I have been so very overwhelmed by the support, cards and messages I have received - everyone has been so incredible."

His wife, Sarah, said: "This has quite simply been the most traumatic event of our lives and it feels like our world has been turned upside down in a really short space of time."

Another police officer who responded to the attack on 4 March is being treated as an outpatient by Salisbury District Hospital, the BBC understands.

Since the incident, nearly 50 other people had sought medical advice from the hospital.

Cara Charles-Barks, chief executive of Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, said medical staff were "working around the clock" to care for the Skripals.

A judge has said it is unclear if the pair, who were found slumped on a shopping centre bench in Salisbury, would fully recover from the nerve agent attack.

Judge David Williams, of the Court of Protection, said their mental capacity may have been compromised to an "unknown" degree.

Image copyright REX/Shutterstock Image caption Sergei and Yulia Skripal were found slumped on a shopping centre bench on 4 March

The court, which hears issues affecting the welfare of sick or vulnerable people, has given doctors permission to take blood samples from the Skripals to send to chemical weapons experts.

A team from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which arrived in the UK earlier this week, will conduct the tests.

Delivering the ruling, Judge Williams said: "Medical tests indicate that their mental capacity might be compromised to an unknown and so far unascertained degree."

He said no-one known to Mr and Ms Skripal had approached the hospital where they were being cared for to "inquire of their welfare".

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption May: Russian threat does not respect borders

Meanwhile, EU leaders have agreed it is "highly likely" Russia was behind the attack, after Prime Minister Theresa May appealed to fellow heads of state for unity.

European Council president Donald Tusk said there was "no other plausible explanation" for the incident.

Earlier, Mrs May told a summit in Brussels that the Salisbury attack was "part of a pattern of Russian aggression against Europe" and stressed the need to stand together.
The Court of Protection hears the Skripals are unable to communicate and may have suffered lifelong brain damage. It rules blood samples can be taken from the pair for analysis by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and grants the group access to medical records.